"Doors will open" for Ocon

As every day passes it seems more and more likely that Esteban Ocon will have to sit out a year of Formula One, as it looks as if Lance Stroll will replace him at Racing Point Force India.

The team was put into administration in the summer and were finally bought out by Stroll’s father, Lawrence.

With seats up and down the grid being snapped up by other drivers, it has left the Frenchman with little option but to take a one-year hiatus from the sport.

It seems inconceivable that the man who scored points in all but two races during his first full season in F1 should have to take a break from the sport, but that is what faces Ocon, and it has led to criticism of the Mercedes young driver programme.

The programme has also failed to find seats for F2 championship leader George Russell and the impressive Pascal Wehrlein, who looked good for Manor and Sauber. Wehrlein has since left the Mercedes young driver programme.

Toto Wolff however, still believes that there will be options for Ocon to have a future in F1.

“We are going to see how it pans out with George and Esteban and then decide how we continue. It doesn’t feel right for someone like Esteban to sit out a year, but we have seen it in the past,” Wolff said.

“I believe that the market is going to be very different again in the early summer next year, not only with us but also with some of the other teams.

“Some doors will open, others will remain closed, and it’s just about finding the next right opportunity for Esteban.”