Esteban Ocon joins Sahara Force India for several seasons
Esteban Ocon has been promoted to a permanent position with Sahara Force India for several seasons. He is ideally placed to compete for a Mercedes seat down the line.
The duel between the two Manor drivers is therefore to the advantage of the Frenchman. While Pascal Wehrlein had a head start by being hired by Manor at the beginning of the season, Esteban Ocon has managed to secure the seat left vacant by Nico Hülkenberg at Sahara Force India.
We must not forget that Sahara Force India is powered by Mercedes and is currently facing financial difficulties due to the legal troubles of its two co-shareholders. The star-branded firm was therefore in a position to put forward its arguments to the team’s management.
Thus, Toto Wolff emphasizes his satisfaction in seeing the F3 and GP3 champion join a team currently fourth in the Constructors’ Championship: « Esteban has a very impressive track record in junior formulas, and he has an exceptional personality outside the car. Force India has a long tradition of working with young drivers and has once again shown courage and vision by taking on Esteban. »
The director of Mercedes also takes the opportunity to subtly criticize some other teams, which prioritize the financial contribution of their drivers above all else. For instance, Felipe Nasr, largely supported by Banco do Brasil, was one of the most serious candidates for this second seat at Force India: « It’s a positive evolution in Formula 1 since talent prevails over money. We will therefore see the most impressive young talents fighting to reach the pinnacle of Formula 1 in the coming years. »
Mercedes is thus preparing for the future as its two main drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, are currently under contract until the end of the 2018 season. By placing Esteban Ocon at Sahara Force India for “several seasons,” the world champion team is positioning itself to train the young Frenchman so he is fully ready to take over when the time comes.
On the other hand, the blow will certainly be hard for Pascal Wehrlein to take, who should therefore do at least a second season with Manor.
With the participation of www.racingbusiness.fr
