Formula 1: Will Esteban Ocon drive for Renault in 2020?

Mercedes reserve driver Esteban Ocon has been rumored to replace Nico Hulkenberg at Renault beginning in the 2020 Formula 1 season.

After a hectic 2019 Formula 1 Silly Season, the 2020 Silly Season is officially underway.

When the full-time driver lineup for the 2019 Formula 1 season was set, one notable driver who was missing was Esteban Ocon.

Ocon spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons driving for Sahara Force India before he was replaced by Lance Stroll, the son of Lawrence Stroll, the billionaire Canadian investor who led the consortium that bought Force India and changed their name to Racing Point.

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Ocon, who is a Mercedes junior driver, was named the reserve and test driver for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport for the 2020 season, and there were initially rumors that he may replace Valtteri Bottas as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate at the Silver Arrows for the 2020 season, perhaps even before the 2019 season ended if Bottas’s performance was not up to par.

But Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff believes that Ocon will be back in Formula 1 next season, and he believes that if Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul is to “restore his gentleman image”, the 22-year-old Frenchman will be driving for Renault in 2020.

Here is what Wolff had to say about the matter, according to ESPN.

"“We are looking at all options. Esteban is a hot topic because he’s clearly one of the most promising young drivers and he deserves to be in Formula One, and we can see that with the interest that he generates. I am very optimistic that we will see him in a Formula One car next year.“I like Cyril but in order to become a gentleman with the handshake, he needs to restore his gentleman image.”"

Mercedes and Renault had a verbal agreement for Ocon to replace Carlos Sainz Jr., who now drives for McLaren, at Renault beginning in the 2019 season, by Abiteboul went back on that agreement and instead signed former Aston Martin Red Bull Racing driver Daniel Ricciardo to the seat that was slated to go to Ocon once Ricciardo became available. Ricciardo signed a two-year contract to drive for Renault.

As for the Frenchman potentially driving for the French manufacturer in the 2020 season, such a possibility stems from the fact that the 2019 season is a contract season for Ricciardo’s teammate, Nico Hulkenberg.

However, there are no guarantees that Hulkenberg, who was the subject of his own rumors as the potential replacement for Ricciardo’s replacement at Red Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, next year, will not sign a new contract to return to Renault next season. In fact, Abiteboul recently revealed that Renault hold an extension option in his current contract.

Here is what Abiteboul had to say about the matter, according to ESPN.

"“So it’s maybe that we continue our journey with Nico. Frankly, Nico has delivered for the team. But also we need to look at the options, like everyone is doing, like I’m sure Nico is doing…things are open for him and for us, but there is also an option in place so that we can possibly continue our journey together.”"

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Will Esteban Ocon return to Formula 1 in the 2020 season? If so, will he do so as Nico Hulkenberg’s replacement at Renault? This year’s Silly Season is still young, but a potential driver confirmation by Renault in the near future could really get things rolling.

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