Formula 1 Alpine launch
Ocon retains "strong links" to Mercedes amid Hamilton F1 replacement rumours
Alpine Formula 1 driver Esteban Ocon says he retains “strong links” to Mercedes amid speculation that he is a contender to replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton for 2025.
Matt Kew
Edited: Feb 8, 2024, 11:06 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Ocon is out of contract at Alpine at the end of this season. He was signed by the Mercedes junior programme during his 2015 title-winning GP3 Series campaign and given his relationship with the team’s boss Toto Wolff, he is seen as a candidate to replace Hamilton.
Addressing the speculation for the first time, Ocon said he had always maintained “strong links” to Mercedes but stressed that he remains “totally dedicated” to current employer Alpine.
Speaking during Wednesday’s launch of the Alpine A524 at Enstone, Ocon said: “I've always had strong links with Mercedes. I'm still a Merc junior driver.
“This has always been, even if I'm not that junior anymore. I'm still contracted with them at some stage.
“So, it is how it is. We will see.
“At the moment, I'm totally dedicated to Alpine. That's my focus.
“I need to do a good job on track as always. Every year is a crucial year in F1 because it doesn't matter if you have a contract or not. If you don't perform, you can be out. That's how it is.
“If you do a strong job there will be always talks, rumours and good things for you. As long as we talk about you, it means that what you do on track is good.”
Esteban Ocon, Alpine
Photo by: Alpine
Ocon reckoned that Hamilton’s Ferrari switch had “surprised everyone”, based on the timing on the announcement.
"I think the Lewis news surprised everyone for sure," he said. "Nobody was expecting something like that during the winter because it's quite calm period normally, but it hasn't seemed to be a calm period this winter."
Meanwhile, a sense of calm has returned at Alpine after its sweeping management changes last summer, with Ocon hoping the stability at the team will pay dividends.
"It's very good to have continuity," he added. "You keep the work going, keep the little details going through. And ultimately, that's very important because you have everything to learn if you work with a new team, with new people.
"If there is some fuzz at the other [teams], we will take it, but we don't want to focus on the other side. We need to be perfect on our side and then things will come."
Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble
Read Also:
Formula 1Alpine's 2024 F1 car "new front to back" after maxing out 2023 design
Formula 1Alpine takes covers off 2024 F1 car
Formula 1Bottas says no "burned bridges" with Mercedes over Hamilton replacement
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Alpine's 2024 F1 car "new front to back" after maxing out 2023 design
Next article Renault: Andretti engine talks won't resume until it gains F1 entry
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Matt Kew
Marko suggests Perez's improved F1 form because 2025 contract at stake
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 6, 2024
Marko suggests Perez's improved F1 form because 2025 contract at stake
Russell explains how low-fuel runs expose Mercedes F1 inconsistency
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 6, 2024
Russell explains how low-fuel runs expose Mercedes F1 inconsistency
Leclerc: No answer for "once in a season" Japan F1 qualifying struggle
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 6, 2024
Leclerc: No answer for "once in a season" Japan F1 qualifying struggle
More from
Lewis Hamilton
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
Formula 1
Formula 1 1 d
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Formula 1
Formula 1 2 d
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
More from
Alpine
"Colapinto never hit the apex" – Audi's take on contentious Nico Hulkenberg penalty in Brazilian GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
4 d
"Colapinto never hit the apex" – Audi's take on contentious Nico Hulkenberg penalty in Brazilian GP
A fond farewell to a few WEC favourites
WEC
Monza
A fond farewell to a few WEC favourites
Latest news
Retaining Liam Lawson isn't enough – Red Bull must stop treating him like a failure
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 3 h
Retaining Liam Lawson isn't enough – Red Bull must stop treating him like a failure
Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
7 h
Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
MotoGP
Qatar GP
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe