Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle believes Mercedes might be looking at Alpine driver Esteban Ocon ahead of the 2025 season.
The French driver is one of several drivers who will be on Toto Wolff’s radar with Lewis Hamilton departing at the end of the season.
Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, Martin Brundle suggested the Frenchman could end up making the biggest step up of his career to partner George Russell in the future.
Brundle thinks Mercedes want Ocon for 2025
The bombshell that Lewis Hamilton will be driving for Ferrari next season sent shockwaves across the Formula 1 paddock.
The 2024 off-season was relatively quiet up to that point, with Guenther Steiner’s exit from Haas the main talking point.
However, the 39-year-old’s shock move has opened up what was already going to be a crazy driver market heading into next year with so many drivers out of contract.
Toto Wolff will have the pick of the grid to replace Hamilton given Mercedes’s success over the past 10 years.
Unless Sergio Perez leaves Red Bull, becoming George Russell’s teammate is likely the most attractive available seat on the grid.
Brundle now believes that Esteban Ocon – who has connections to Mercedes – could end up making the switch for 2025.
He’s entering the final year of his deal at Alpine and after a disappointing year for the French team, the 27-year-old is unlikely to be too excited about extending his current deal.
Mercedes have plenty of options to replace Hamilton
Speaking about the drivers available to Mercedes for next season, Brundle said: “They can wait and see as you say how [Andrea] Kimi Antonelli goes.
“They’ve got Esteban Ocon I suspect that they want. They’ve got access to Carlos Sainz, maybe Fernando Alonso, they’ve got Mick Schumacher in their gang and any number of other drivers.
“I think they’ll see how this season goes, why do they need to jump now?”
Alpine have already made it clear that they wish to give Ocon and teammate Pierre Gasly a much faster car this season.
Ocon – who also aspires to drive in Le Mans – still has strong links to Mercedes after coming through their academy.
He didn’t stand out in 2023, with a podium finish in Monaco the highlight of his campaign.
It would be a slightly underwhelming signing if he was announced right now, but a lot can change over the next few months.
Ocon might be hoping Brundle’s prediction does come true and he’s competing for Mercedes in 2025 as it would give him a much better chance to add to his solo victory in Formula 1 going forward.
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