There is a sense going into the Russian Grand Prix this weekend that, for the short term at least, it is the last-chance saloon for Esteban Ocon. The talented young French driver revealed this week he is in talks with Williams for a potential seat in 2019. If he does not secure the drive he will almost certainly be out of Formula One next year. Much as young driver programmes are proving invaluable to making it through the F1 ranks, on a partisan grid they can come back to bite you.
Ocon drives for Force India in his second full season in F1. Before claiming the GP3 title in 2015 he was taken on as part of Mercedes’ young driver programme. At Sochi in 2016 some of the team were already expressing huge admiration for his talent.
Written by Giles Richards
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2018/sep/27/esteban-ocon-dilemma-lack-chances-young-drivers-f1-mercedes-force-india under the title “Esteban Ocon dilemma highlights the lack of chances for young drivers in F1 | Giles Richards”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
