Ocon will cut Mercedes ties with Renault move
Ocon will cut Mercedes ties with Renault move
Esteban Ocon will cut most ties with Mercedes when he becomes a Renault driver in 2020, Cyril Abiteboul has confirmed.
Renault confirmed the arrival of Ocon on a two-year deal from next season ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, securing the French driver's return to the grid, having spent 2019 without a race seat after Renault opted to sign Daniel Ricciardo ahead of him.
Abiteboul was accused by Toto Wolff of breaking a 'gentleman's agreement' in the process, having opted against a deal that was reported to be a loan.
However, the terms have changed a year on, with Ocon fully contracted to Renault when he arrives next year, having operated under the Mercedes umbrella since 2015.
Asked if Ocon would retain any ties with Mercedes, Abiteboul said: "No. He's a Renault driver, that's very clear.
"Mercedes will have absolutely no right on him for the duration of his contract.
"So, small difference is that his management company happens to be a racing team, and that's Mercedes – but it's a slightly different set-up from the set-up we had with Carlos last year, where that was on loan and not under contract with Red Bull – but he [Ocon] will be a fully-fledged Renault driver."
Ocon will replace Nico Hulkenberg, who has been booted after three years with the team, and Abiteboul said the decision was partly down to wanting to refresh the whole outfit's mindset.
"Frankly, when you make a decision like that, you don't just look at pure pace, you also need to look at the collective dynamic. And there is a dynamic we need to restart, reset into the team," he said.
"And probably, we need to project ourselves into the medium to long-term future. So not just 2020 but also 2021, and what's happening to his team-mate and so on and so forth.
"So that's all of that but in particular the collective dynamic and what Esteban can probably bring to the team.
"Probably starving for racing, being super-happy to come back into racing, by nature, by construction because also he's been out of a seat for a year. It's all of these elements that we factored into the equation."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Newey Red Bull EXIT date revealed as F1 star confirmed at new team - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Verstappen takes F1 swipe at Hamilton and rivals with ruthless remark
- Yesterday 22:57
Marko defends Ricciardo in 'unbelievable' idiot claim
- Yesterday 21:57
Hamilton hints at sensational Newey arrival at Ferrari
- Yesterday 20:57
Suspended Red Bull employee 'grilled' as Horner saga given potential END DATE
- Yesterday 19:57
BLOW for former F1 champion as Mercedes preferences revealed
- Yesterday 18:58
Related news
F1 star predicts shock world championship bid
F1 star calls in sick ahead of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Nico Hulkenberg in 'rear-end' jab to Esteban Ocon
F1 star makes major retirement claim
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860