Toto Wolff in discussions with surprise option to replace Lewis Hamilton 'a lot'
Mercedes and Toto Wolff have been tasked with the job of replacing Lewis Hamilton.
Alpine driver Esteban Ocon has revealed that he has been in discussions with Mercedes over his future plans, with the Silver Arrows in the process of deciding on their successor to Lewis Hamilton. The Frenchman was their reserve driver in 2019 and has been part of the Mercedes youth system for a while, and could now get his chance at the top seat.
Hamilton’s bombshell announcement that he would be leaving the team after over a decade to join Ferrari not only surprised the wider Formula One world, but also team principal Toto Wolff. The Austrian executive is taking the 2024 season to assess the current market, which depends on Max Verstappen’s future, with Ocon considered a back-up option.
The Frenchman earned his place in the Mercedes academy with 2014 F3 European Championship and the 2015 GP3 Series wins, impressing Wolff and co, but has been driving for Alpine for the past three seasons.
Though he still considers himself intrinsically linked to the Silver Arrows. “In my opinion, I am still a Mercedes junior,” Ocon admitted. “The management side has not changed since 2015. We are discussing a lot. We will decide what is best for my future.
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“There is certainly a lot going on behind the scenes, not only looking for a long-term deal, but also a short-term one. In Formula One, things can change quickly, but that's the way it is, the most important thing is to close a deal as quickly as possible. As always, that is my clear goal.
“At the moment my mind is completely on this team, I am totally committed. I have been part of the project for years, that is very clear, but in Formula One you do not want to be left without a contract, so I have not been able to enjoy that aspect. The sooner it is fixed, the better.”
Gwen Lagrue, chief of Mercedes’ junior programme, previously revealed that the team still manage Ocon's career despite him being committed to Alpine. However, the contract with his current team expires at the end of the season and would allow the 27-year-old to return to Brackley.
Ocon will be keen for a decision to be made about his future as soon as possible to avoid being left in limbo, but Wolff has insisted that he is in no hurry to replace Hamilton, likely waiting to discover the extent of any fall-out at Red Bull concerning number-one option Verstappen.
"I'm in no hurry for us to take a decision on drivers,” Wolff said in March. “I've been rushed in a hurry by Lewis. So, this time around I'm going to take it easy and evaluate the market."