After the recent Singapore Grand Prix, hopes of the Frenchman continuing in Formula One for the 2019 season are slowly fading away. This coming after an interview between Toto Wolff, Team Principle of Mercedes AMG Petronas and Channel 4's Mark Webber, former Red Bull driver. In which Toto stated:
"I was just speaking with Cyril (Abiteboul, Renault Team Principle) I think he (Ocon) will be in Formula One one day. There isn't the right options at the moment, we are looking at it but he's a kid that deserves to be here like Leclerc, like so many of the others. It's a generation change now that's happening and I'm confident for the future."
Before the Singapore Grand Prix we were led to believe Toto had secured a drive for Ocon's 2019 season with Renault, where according to Eddie Jordan, former team boss of Jordan GP, Ocon and Renault had a verbal agreement for next season. However, after signing Daniel Ricciardo for 2019, Renault broke that agreement, leaving Ocon without a drive.
Esteban Ocon is a very talented driver and has even been praised by four-time World Champion, Lewis Hamilton, "The best drivers need to be in the best cars." He continued with," You can’t let somebody who has got more money leapfrog a better driver. It shouldn’t happen.” This was in regard to Lance Stroll's move to Esteban's seat at Force India, which ultimately put him in the position of having no seat for 2019.
At this rate, we may have to get used to the idea of Ocon taking a break and becoming a Mercedes development driver.
However, not all hopes and dreams have disappeared. Seeing as Valtteri Bottas only has a one-year contract with Mercedes, which ends at the end of 2019, and Ocon being part of the Mercedes Young Driver Programme, he could potentially earn himself the top seat for the 2020 season.
Additionally, if he does have to pause his Formula One career, there is always the chance of coming back. Just look at Kimi Raikkonen, he left in 2010-11 where he drove as a rally driver and ended up coming back for the 2012 season. Michael Schumacher retired from Formula One at the end of the 2006 season, only to return four years later for the 2010 season! So even if Ocon does have to take a year out, he almost definitely will get back in to the Paddock.
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