What’s next for Esteban Ocon?
A week ago, the question referred to whether Ocon would compete in the Alpine A524 for this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. A crash with teammate Pierre Gasly on the opening lap of the Monaco Grand Prix led to a warning from team principal Bruno Famin about “consequences”, sparking speculation that Ocon might actually be benched this weekend.
Ocon confirmed his return to racing in Montreal last week, so while his short-term outlook is solidified, his future remains somewhat uncertain. Alpine and Ocon announced on Monday that they had agreed to “part ways” after the end of the 2024 F1 season, and the focus now turns to the experienced driver’s future.
Despite his incident in Monaco, Ocon is one of the drivers on the current grid who can boast a Grand Prix win, having achieved his first F1 victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2021. He has also shown the ability to deliver results on the sport’s biggest stage, as evidenced by his impressive qualifying effort at last year’s Monaco Grand Prix and subsequent podium finishes in the race.
Given that experience, where will he land next? Here are some options.
Mercedes
Ocon’s links with Mercedes are well known and, although it may be difficult to realise, his status with the Brackley-based team is at least worth mentioning. Ocon was a member of the team’s junior programme and began his F1 career with Force India before returning to Mercedes in 2019 and spending a season as the team’s reserve driver when he was unable to get in the car that season.
While Ocon moved to Renault (now Alpine), He said ahead of the 2020 season ESPN return A move to Mercedes was mooted in 2020. “It was very close and there were talks up until the last moment,” Ocon said of a move to Mercedes at the time. “But that’s over now and I have to look ahead and think about what’s in front of me.”
Mercedes are of course not without other options – the team has been repeatedly rumoured to be in line to sign Max Verstappen if he somehow becomes available, and young prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli has also been mentioned as a contender – and Ocon’s statement this morning that he will “announce our plans very soon” makes a move to Mercedes seem unlikely, given Toto Wolff’s desire to take his time with the decision.
Unless they give Ocon a short-term contract at Mercedes to keep the seat warm for Antonelli.
Williams
Could Williams be a potential option if Mercedes is out?
The team has already reached agreement with Alexander Albon on a new “multi-year” contract which will see him remain with the team beyond 2025. Currently, the team’s other driver is Logan Sargent, but Williams is expected to replace him in 2025. Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, there was speculation the team might ask the FIA for an exemption to allow Antonelli to drive for the team ahead of his 18th birthday in August, but team principal James Bowles denied the rumours, although he has made it clear in recent weeks that Sargent’s future with the team is not guaranteed.
Other names on the grid have also been linked to Williams, including Carlos Sainz Jr. and Valtteri Bottas, and there’s also the idea that Williams could be a landing spot for Antonelli in 2025, in which scenario Ocon could move to Mercedes on a short-term deal while the organization considers a move for Antonelli to Mercedes at some point.
Hearthstone
Ocon has been rumoured in recent weeks to be a possible move to Haas in 2025, as the team already knows it has one of its two seats available next year – at least one will be open as current driver Nico Hulkenberg moves to Sauber for the 2025 season and the team will become Audi’s works operation in 2026. Kevin Magnussen is also out of contract, which could theoretically leave two seats open at Haas.
Ferrari reserve driver Oliver Bearman, who performed phenomenally in Sainz’s place at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when he was unable to compete due to an appendectomy, has long been tipped to move to Haas full-time in 2025.
Bearman ran FP1 for the team ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Could the team pair a rookie with the veteran Ocon?
Ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, team principal Ayao Komatsu suggested Ocon was under consideration along with other drivers: “We are in discussion with several drivers,” Komatsu told Danish media. Extra Bladevia Grandprix.com“At this point, there is no reason to close the door to anyone. If someone comes to see us and is interested in us, I wouldn’t close the door,” Esteban said. [Ocon] It’s one of them, but it’s one of many.”
Shortly after Alpine’s announcement, prominent F1 analyst Lawrence Barrett named Haas as one of Ocon’s potential destinations.
I’ll discuss it with the team.
Sauber/Audi
Could Ocon race alongside Hulkenberg in 2025?
Another team reportedly in the running to sign Ocon, with Barrett saying both Sauber and Haas have been “chasing” him for some time now. “Sauber/Audi and Haas have been pursuing Ocon for several months and both teams are keen to sign an experienced race winner like Ocon to build a project around and become a strong midfield contender to start with,” Barrett wrote earlier today.
But as Barrett points out, Ocon could be competing with both teams – and it would be tough. Haas is also in talks with Bottas, a multiple-time F1 winner, for a place in 2025. As for Sauber/Audi, Sainz remains a contender, with Barrett suggesting the in-form Ferrari driver could be Sauber’s first choice. [Ocon] “Despite a history of difficult and tense times with teammates, there’s no denying he can get the job done quickly,” Barrett wrote. “That’s why he’s in negotiations with Haas and Sauber/Audi over a multi-year deal from 2025. In the former case, he’d have to compete with Bottas for the seat, and in the latter case, he’d have to wait until Sainz decides whether to accept the job.”
Other spots besides F1
Is it possible that Ocon won’t be on the grid at all next year?
Given Ocon’s comments on Monday morning, this seems the least likely option – if he is going to walk away from F1, it will likely be after all the current options on the F1 grid have been exhausted, and well into the calendar year.
However, this is unlikely to happen, with Ocon saying he will announce his plans “soon”.
But until he announces the 2025 roster, it can’t be taken off the table.
