Ocon at a 'crossroads' with Mercedes, says Wolff

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has suggested that Esteban Ocon is at a "crossroads" in his relationship with Mercedes as a junior driver, as the Frenchman struggles to find a driving seat for the 2019 F1 season with Lance Stroll likely to replace him at Force India soon.

Ocon has been a solid performer this season and in previous years, but due to circumstances outwith his control, he is facing the possibility of not being included in the 2019 driver line-up.

With Force India struggling financially and facing bankruptcy, they were saved by businessman Lawrence Stroll, who is poised to take his son, Lance, over to his new team from Williams.

With these developments, Ocon was linked with the likes of McLaren, Renault, and Toro Rosso, but these outfits ultimately declined to take him on due to his role with Mercedes as a junior driver.

Wolff reckons that Ocon's future needs to be decided.

“We are at a crossroads at the moment," the Mercedes chief told Sky Sports F1.

We are going to see how it pans out with George [Russell] and Esteban and then decide how we continue. It doesn’t feel right for someone like Esteban to sit out a year, but we have seen it in the past.

“I believe that the market is going to be very different again in the early summer next year, not only with us but also with some of the other teams.

“Some doors will open, others will remain closed, and it’s just about finding the next right opportunity for Esteban.”

With Stroll likely to join Force India, a spot will open up at Williams, and although Ocon has been linked with this seat also, he faces competition from Formula Two star and fellow Mercedes junior, George Russell.

“The two of them are at a very different stage in their careers,” Wolff said of Ocon and Russell.

“George is still in the fight for the F2 championship, and it’s not done, and he clearly has the talent to go into Formula 1 but he’s not in as tricky a position as Esteban.

“I don’t think that the two of them will come into each other’s way.”

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