Formula 1: Esteban Ocon tipped to replace Nico Hulkenberg at Renault in 2020
By Asher Fair
Esteban Ocon has been tipped to replace Nico Hulkenberg at Renault for the 2020 Formula 1 season and become Daniel Ricciardo’s teammate.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport reserve driver Esteban Ocon has long been considered a potential candidate to drive for Mercedes in the 2020 Formula 1 season.
The 22-year-old Frenchman spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons driving for Sahara/Racing Point Force India before was left without a ride for the 2019 season when Canadian billionaire investor Lawrence Stroll purchased the team and replaced him with his son Lance.
However, with Valtteri Bottas having been tipped to return to Mercedes for what is set to be the fourth consecutive season next year, Ocon has been tipped to replace Nico Hulkenberg at Renault.
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Hulkenberg is in a contract year with the French marque, and while he has been optimistic about returning to the team for next season, there is still nothing that has been signed.
Perhaps most importantly, Ocon, a former Renault test driver, was slated to drive for Renault in the 2019 season, as Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul had a handshake agreement to pair him with Hulkenberg as the replacement for Carlos Sainz Jr.
However, Daniel Ricciardo made the surprising decision to leave Aston Martin Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2018 season, and he signed a two-year contract with Renault.
Wolff has urged Abiteboul to “restore his gentleman image” and sign Ocon for the 2020 season, and it appears as though that is what is going to happen. This alone made is somewhat clear that Wolff was not yet ready for Ocon to be promoted to the factory Mercedes team despite his eagerness to get him back into Formula 1.
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No official confirmation has been made about Esteban Ocon driving for Renault in the 2020 Formula 1 season, although it is expected that Mercedes will confirm that Valtteri Bottas will return to the team next year later this month and before the 2019 summer break ends, as Toto Wolff previously stated that August was the target month for this decision.
The Belgian Grand Prix is set to bring the summer break to its end on Sunday, September 1 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Stavelot, Belgium. This race, which is the 13th of 21 races on the 2019 schedule, is set to be broadcast live on ESPN2 beginning at 9:05 a.m. ET.