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'Mega-Talented' Ocon gains Mercedes support and GP3 drive

After a long period of uncertainty surrounding his future career, Mercedes have announced that they will support highly-rated European Formula 3 C...

Motorsport Blog

Motorsport Blog

After a long period of uncertainty surrounding his future career, Mercedes have announced that they will support highly-rated European Formula 3 Champion Esteban Ocon this season.

The 18-year-old wowed the junior single-seater establishment by winning one of the world's most important ladder-to-F1 racing series at his first attempt last season but then had to watch as one of the drivers he vanquished, Max Verstappen, leapfrogged him to the top rung.

Ocon, meanwhile, faced a long winter as he waited for his future to take shape but he will now make his debut in the opening round of this year's GP3 championship racing for the ART team in Barcelona this weekend.

Motor Racing - Formula One World Championship - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Practice Day - Abu Dhabi, UAE

It's a frustrating sideways step for a driver who drove four races in Formula Renault 3.5 last year and could reasonably have expected a step up to that category or GP2 this season. Indeed, Ocon has already sampled F1 machinery having tested impressively with the Lotus F1 team at the Abu Dhabi test at the end of last season.

That Lotus outing came thanks to his contract with Gravity Sports Management who have shared ownership with the Enstone squad. Ocon's career was formerly mentored at Gravity by former Lotus boss and current McLaren Racing Director Eric Boullier.

His Gravity connections couldn't propel him forward in the racing categories but now with Mercedes patronage Ocon at least has the backing of a major manufacturer with a world championship winning F1 team, power unit supply arrangements with three other teams and a significant racing structure outside of Grand Prix racing.

While not yet a fully-fledged Mercedes driver, the deal, which has been in the making since last summer,  means that for 2015 Ocon will compete in the GP3 Series on Formula 1 weekends with ART Grand Prix, a long-standing partner of Mercedes-Benz.

In addition to his racing commitments, he will perform the role of official Test and Reserve Driver for the Mercedes AMG DTM team, bringing him valuable experience of technical development programmes that are not part of the junior single seater formulae.

Motor Racing - Formula One Testing -  Abu Dhabi Test - Day Two - Abu Dhabi, UAE

While all eyes will be on Verstappen in Spain this weekend, at least some attention will also be focused on the progress of a driver less than a year older than the 17-year-old who many believe is at least his equal behind the wheel.

Mercedes Motorsport boss Toto Wolff believes that he is lending support to one of racing's best emerging talents. 

"Esteban is a mega-talented young guy and one of the stars of the future," says Wolff. "I'm pleased we've found a good path to continue his relationship with Mercedes-Benz, because we have a strong tradition of supporting the best young drivers with a view to their long-term potential. We will be watching Esteban's progress with a lot of interest and I hope this year will be the first of many working together."

Ocon is naturally relieved and delighted to have earned the support of one of the major players in world motorsport. 

"I'm really proud to have the support of Mercedes-Benz this season and that the Mercedes AMG DTM team has trusted me with the important role of test and reserve driver. I spent last weekend with the DTM team in Hockenheim and hope that I can play a valuable role this year.

"But my main focus is on the opening races of the GP3 Series this weekend. I am proud to be racing with support from Mercedes-Benz and in a fantastic team like ART Grand Prix. I hope that I can compete for the title this year, starting with strong results in Barcelona."

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