Ocon wants 2020 deal sorted ‘very, very soon’

Sitting on the sidelines this season, Esteban Ocon insists he has trusts his management – including Toto Wolff – to find him a race seat for next season.

Ocon, backed by Mercedes, entered F1 in 2017 with Force India, however, the team’s change of ownership during the 2018 season meant his lost his seat to Lance Stroll.

Although other teams were keen on signing the Frenchman, his connections to Mercedes curtailed those talks.

In the end he stayed with Mercedes, signing as the team’s official test and reserve driver for 2019.

He is, however, hoping that is just a one year deal as he wants to return to racing next season.

“Our goal, not only mine, is to get back in the car as soon as possible,” he told Autosport.

“At the moment my whole management, including Toto, is working for me to get back in a race seat next year and I think discussions are already starting.

“I think [getting the plans confirmed] as soon as possible, that would be great. That would be the best.

“I hope my future will be sorted very, very soon.

“I trust the people around me to do a good job and that’s the only thing I can do.”

Ocon insists 2019 has not been a waste of time as he has learnt a great deal working with the Mercedes teams.

“It’s been a good year of work,” he added.

“I think what we’ve done at the simulator, me coming then to the races having some good information from it, has helped the team to perform properly.

“It helps them quite a lot to perform, so it’s going well.

“Being part of this fantastic team, you always learn a lot of stuff. The knowledge they have is priceless.

“They’ve won since the hybrid era started so they have so, so much knowledge.

“And of course being part of them, when I will come back I will be more ready and even more complete as a driver.

“It’s a great chance that I have to be around with this team.”

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