Alpine's announcement not to renew Esteban Ocon's contract for next season has generated great excitement in the world of Formula 1. With the Mercedes seat vacant following Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari in 2025, the idea of seeing Ocon at the wheel of a Silver Arrow appears more and more plausible and sensible.
The end of the relationship with Alpine
Esteban Ocon was a pillar of the Alpine project since its transformation from Renault Sport. However, the 2024 season highlighted internal tensions, culminating in Monaco Grand Prix. During the race, Ocon and teammate Pierre Gasly were involved in an accident that compromised the race of both Alpine drivers, causing a heated debate within the team. Furthermore, Ocon himself is often the subject of criticism from his teammate Pierre Gasly, who has repeatedly expressed his disappointment at the treatment he received.
The historical link with Mercedes
Ocon is not a new face at Mercedes. The Frenchman was part of the Brackley team's young driver program and has remained close ties with Toto Wolff, the historic team principal of the Mercedes-AMG team. An emblematic episode was during the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix, when Ocon Hamilton's overtaking was made easier in an almost dramatic way, highlighting his affinity with the German team. In the past, Ocon has said he answers directly to Wolff, reinforcing the perception of a privileged bond.
The current situation of Mercedes
Mercedes is going through a complex transition period. After having failed the W13 project, the team finds itself chasing the leading group. In parallel, the loss of key engineers, such as Loic Serra moved to Ferrari, further complicated the situation. Despite these setbacks, Mercedes continues great hopes in the 2026 project, which involves significant regulatory change. The team aims to replicate the success achieved with the introduction of hybrid Power Units in 2014, hoping to create a new dominant engine.
Ocon's future at Mercedes
The Ocon's transfer to Mercedes seems like a logical move for both parties:
- for Ocon, represents the opportunity to fulfill his dream of joining Mercedes, obtaining the possibility of definitively establishing himself as one of the top drivers in the championship;
- for Mercedes, Ocon brings with him a considerable wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge of the dynamics of a growing team like Alpine, managing to manage very complex situations.
Therefore, Esteban Ocon's move to Mercedes can be seen as a strategic choice which benefits both parties, offering the French driver a new chance to shine and the German team an element of value to return to the top of Formula 1.