Hamilton-Bottas 'war' will last all year

Esteban Ocon says the "war" between Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas for supremacy at Mercedes and in the world drivers' championship will last throughout 2019, although the battle has not had a negative impact on the atmosphere inside the Silver Arrows.

Having dropped off the grid this year, Ocon is back at Mercedes where he is serving as reserve driver.

The Frenchman had been linked with potentially replacing Bottas after the Finn's winless 2018, but a pair of victories already this year has seen such talk quelled for now.

Far from lament his potential opportunities in the team, Ocon says Bottas' success has actually breathed new life into the constructors' champions.

"There is a very, very good atmosphere," Ocon told Canal +.

"I think that, of course, when you are a part of a team like this, which makes records every year and that performs as much, it motivates everyone.

"So, obviously, everything is going very well within the team.

"Also, I'm sure that Lewis will not want to stay behind Valtteri.

"Valtteri will want to beat Lewis and Lewis will still want to beat Valtteri. So, I think it's going to be the war until the end of the season."

Ocon spent the last two years at Force India, but was the ultimate casualty of the Stroll-led consortium as the team became Racing Point and paired Sergio Perez with Canadian businessman Lawrence Stroll's son Lance.

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