Mercedes: Situation with Ocon is really complicated

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff claims that the situation regarding Esteban Ocon's future is "really complicated"...

Lawrence Stroll's consortium's take over of the rebranded Racing Point Force India team has left Ocon's future in huge doubt with the side.

Stroll is expected to hire his son, Lance, from Williams to race alongside Sergio Perez - with rumours that it could be as early as this month's Russian Grand Prix.

Ocon is contracted with Mercedes and now the Silver Arrows hunt for a team who would hire the French driver, so he can gain more experience in the sport.

The Force India man looked very close to joining Renault - before Daniel Ricciardo announced he'd be driving for them next season.

McLaren was another option for Ocon, but their recent announcement says that Lando Norris will be making the step up from Formula 2.

"On drivers, the situation is really complicated," Wolff told Crash.net. "Obviously with Esteban, it looked like we had a deal with Renault. And within 48 hours, things changed.

"Agreements suddenly were not agreements any more. But I can understand the rationale of Renault getting Ricciardo on board.

"It's just the way that things panned out was not ideal for Esteban, and it would be really a shame if a timing issue or intransparent communication would be a reason for such a kid with ability not to find the right seat for next year."