The Renault Alpine factory team has been one of the most troubled teams of Formula 1 over the last few months. Things are not going well on the track and behind the scenes. Esteban Ocon has had enough and is reportedly considering a move on. Two teams have already been linked with the Frenchman.

Esteban Ocon’s current contract with Alpine expires at the end of the 2024 season. What happens next for the Frenchman is anyone’s guess. The current trend is clearly towards a farewell. The 27-year-old appears to have two possible destinations in mind.

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Audi comes knocking for Ocon

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ocon is already in talks with Audi. The German manufacturer will not officially enter Formula One until 2026, but it already has the power to decide on drivers.

Audi’s strategic move into Formula One by acquiring a stake in the Sauber team marks a significant shift in the motorsport landscape. This decision not only reinforces Audi’s commitment to motorsport in general, but also sets the stage for the brand’s full entry as a manufacturer on the F1 grid. The collaboration with Sauber, an established name in Formula One, provides Audi with a solid platform to integrate its automotive innovations directly into the pinnacle of motorsport.

The partnership will leverage Sauber’s extensive experience in F1 operations and Audi’s expertise in automotive technology, particularly in areas such as hybrid technology. 

This is the marketing benefit of such a venture for the German manufacturer and move to Sauber Audi in 2025 would therefore be possible for Ocon if both parties can come to an agreement.

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Ocon flirts with Mercedes cockpit

The catch: Ocon is just one of many drivers on Audi’s shortlist. Carlos Sainz, Ocon’s team-mate Pierre Gasly and Nico Hülkenberg have also been linked with a move to Audi in recent times. At the moment, it is completely unclear who will ultimately get the contract.

According to Newsweek, Ocon has another, far more attractive option in mind: a move to Mercedes. He has maintained his links with the Silver Arrows over the years, and his ties with Brackley are correspondingly short.

According to the report, there is “no doubt” that Ocon is looking for a faster cockpit. At the moment, it looks like only Mercedes can offer him that. Both seats at Ferrari are taken, while Red Bull are said to have other candidates on their list in the event of a Pérez/Verstappen exit.

However, it remains to be seen whether the Silver Arrows can see themselves bringing back their former junior driver.

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Ocon’s history with Mercedes

Esteban Ocon’s journey through the ranks of Formula One has been significantly shaped by his relationship with the Mercedes AMG F1 Team, charting a path from junior driver to reserve driver to race driver for customer team Force India. His association with Mercedes began early in his career, highlighting the brand’s investment in developing young talent through its junior driver programme.

As part of the Mercedes development stable, Ocon was appointed as a reserve driver, where he gained invaluable experience by participating in test sessions and simulations. This role was crucial as it gave him an insight into the team’s operations and strategies at the highest level of motorsport. His performance and potential during this period was evident and he quickly made the transition to a race seat with Force India, a Mercedes customer team.

This move was a strategic move by Mercedes to provide Ocon with real-world racing experience while still under their guidance and using their engines, ensuring his development in a competitive but supportive environment.

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Ocon forced away from Mercedes

During his tenure with Force India, Ocon showed his mettle, consistently delivering strong performances and proving himself as a formidable F1 driver. His time with Force India not only honed his racing skills, but also cemented his reputation in the F1 community as a talented and reliable competitor. This phase of his career was crucial to his development and prepared him for the next steps in his career.

The culmination of Ocon’s relationship with Mercedes and his subsequent move to Alpine marked a new chapter where he took on new challenges and responsibilities away from the direct supervision of Mercedes. Toto Wolff, his manager, allowed the Frenchman to leave the Mercedes stable in order to keep a seat on the grid when Force India became Racing Point and he lost his seat to Lance Stroll.

Wolff’s willingness to allow Ocon to leave the Mercedes family to Renault / Alpine to maintain a race seat certainly points to a possible return to the German side; Ocon lost out to Valtteri Bottas maintaining a Mercedes cockpit alongside Lewis Hamilton.

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