Ocon poised to join Renault

Force India COO Otmar Szafnauer has reluctantly admitted that the team could be forced to release Esteban Ocon from their driving line-up should his parent team, Mercedes, opt to continue his development with another constructor outfit, with Renault tipped as a potential destination for the Frenchman.

Ocon is contracted to Mercedes but is on loan to Force India for the moment, and it is believed that as part of the agreement, Ocon can only leave if he is to return to the Mercedes works team.

However, over the past few weeks rumours have intensified that the Silver Arrows want their driver to leave Force India and join Renault for the 2019 Formula One season, with the French manufacturer's works team impressive in the 2018 campaign.

Any potential agreement is complicated by the fact that Force India are a customer of Mercedes, so it would mean taking their driver away from a customer to a rival works team.

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When quizzed by Autosport about Ocon's situation, Mercedes boss Wolff said: "We don't know. We can't comment. It's tricky, the situation."

Szafnauer has commented on the potential transfer of Ocon, but it is clear that he will not allow Force India to be left with the short end of the stick in any contract negotiations.

"We try not to disclose the details of our driver contracts, but it's safe to say that we would have to release him," Szafnauer also told Autosport.

"If circumstances made it the best thing for us to do, we'd have to look at it. We like Esteban and he's done a great job for us. At the end of the day, it's our call.

"If Renault want to pay a bunch of money, I'll consider it!"