Toto Wolff not ruling out Esteban Ocon for second Mercedes seat in 2022

Mercedes

Wolff not ruling out Ocon for second Mercedes seat in 2022

Ocon was formerly a Mercedes junior driver before his switch to Renault

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Thursday 13 May 2021 12:43

Toto Wolff has failed to rule out Alpine's Esteban Ocon as a contender for the second Mercedes seat for the 2022 F1 season.

The Frenchman has made an impressive start to this year with three points finishes out of four whilst outperforming two-time champion team-mate Fernando Alonso.

The former Mercedes junior driver qualified fifth for the Spanish Grand Prix to further raise his profile as he looks to cement his place in the fight with Ferrari and McLaren.

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Ocon's performances have seemingly thrust him into contention alongside Valtteri Bottas and George Russell to partner Lewis Hamilton next year.

Asked if Ocon was on his radar, Wolff replied: "Esteban is one of the drivers that is connected to us whilst being a fully-fledged Alpine driver, and we have a very good relationship with Alpine.

"Obviously Valtteri and Lewis are the drivers today, and what will be will be next year."

When later given the chance to clarify his comments, Wolff suggested an opening could be made possible.

"It is a little bit of a weird situation because Esteban has been a Mercedes junior for a long time but he is an Alpine works driver and that is fact," he added.

"I think the situation is good for him there, he is growing, he is putting in good performances, he is French.

"All of that, it is very much that the stars are aligned and I think it needs to be Laurent's [Rossi, Alpine CEO] and Esteban's call first as to how to continue before we start to give an opinion."