Mercedes F1 signs Esteban Ocon as young driver option
French GP3 frontrunner Esteban Ocon joins Mercedes’ Formula One team as a development driver, with the team confirming the move during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.
Mercedes’ Formula One team has signed French teenager Esteban Ocon as a development driver, confirming the move at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in late November 2015. Ocon, who was on the verge of clinching the GP3 title and had already secured the 2014 FIA European Formula 3 Championship, joins the Mercedes programme as the German manufacturer looks to secure its next generation of talent.
Ocon’s signing follows a strong season in the junior ranks. At just 19, he was on track to win the GP3 Series and had already been linked with a step up to Formula One. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed that the team had taken up its option on Ocon, making him officially part of the Mercedes F1 set-up. The move places Ocon alongside fellow Mercedes junior Pascal Wehrlein, who had been serving as the team’s official reserve driver.
Future roles for Ocon and Wehrlein
The Mercedes team is now working to find suitable programmes for both Ocon and Wehrlein. With most Formula One teams having already confirmed their 2016 driver line-ups, opportunities for race seats remain limited. Wolff indicated that both drivers could take on testing, reserve or even DTM roles if no full-time F1 seat is available. Wehrlein had been linked with a move to Manor for a potential race drive, but as of the Abu Dhabi weekend no deal had been finalised.
Mercedes’ approach to young driver development
Mercedes’ decision to secure Ocon reflects the team’s ongoing strategy of investing in promising young drivers. The team has previously supported talents such as Pascal Wehrlein, and now faces the challenge of finding competitive opportunities for both drivers in a crowded Formula One field. Ocon’s addition strengthens Mercedes’ junior ranks at a time when several rivals are also investing heavily in youth development.
As of late November 2015, Ocon’s precise race programme for the following season remained undecided. Mercedes’ management made clear they would seek the best available opportunities for both Ocon and Wehrlein, whether in Formula One testing, reserve roles or in the DTM touring car series.
