Esteban Ocon is the latest Formula 1 star to join the list of drivers in need of a new seat on the grid for 2025.
Unlike Carlos Sainz, his decision to leave has been announced before Alpine have confirmed his replacement.
Journalist Craig Slater was speaking on Sky Sports News about the options available to Esteban Ocon heading into next year.
Even though only two teams have officially confirmed their line-ups for 2025 – Ferrari and McLaren – Ocon isn’t suddenly on the radar of the other seven manufacturers outside of Alpine.
Red Bull won’t be moving for Ocon and even though Toto Wolff is his manager, Ocon isn’t in line to replace Lewis Hamilton.
Martin Brundle has already suggested that Ocon won’t be on the radar of any top teams.
However, teams further down the paddock may have already ruled Ocon out as well, with Slater believing that Williams won’t be pursuing the Frenchman for 2025.
The £1.1bn-valued F1 team have already signed up Alex Albon for the foreseeable future.
His teammate Logan Sargeant is in a much more precarious position and would need to display a huge upturn in form to earn a third year on the grid.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes relationship
Williams is not an option for Esteban Ocon in 2025
Williams team principal James Vowles is being incredibly ambitious considering his team only scored their first points of the season in Monaco.
There were suggestions that Albon could leave Williams at the end of the year and was even a potential long-term option for Red Bull at one point.
However, Vowles made a convincing enough argument to the 28-year-old that his future lay with the Grove-based outfit.
Albon has since outlined why he has so much faith in Williams ahead of the next set of regulations and for this reason, Williams are eyeing another driver on the grid as their first choice to replace Sargeant.
That would be Ferrari star Carlos Sainz who is another driver like Ocon who knows he needs to find a new seat.
Although he’s been linked with Audi, Sainz’s camp have been impressed with Williams during negotiations.
It may not seem like a huge blow to Ocon for Williams to not be an option for 2025, but he’s already running out of potential teams to join next season.
READ MORE: Alpine driver Esteban Ocon’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Craig Slater outlines Esteban Ocon’s 2025 prospects
Talking about where Ocon could end up next year, Slater said: “I’ve been doing my rounds and finding that pretty much most of the doors seem closed to Esteban Ocon at the moment.
“Is there a slight chance he might be a contender for the Audi seat? That team is currently Sauber, there’s an offer on the table for Carlos Sainz to go there.
“He is currently caught between taking that option or maybe going to Williams which over the past couple of weeks is really emerging as a serious contender for Sainz’s signature.
“Sainz is the most prominent driver available out of contract at the end of this year, so what he does will allow the other teams to make their decisions in effect.
“It could bring either the Audi or the Williams seat into play, I don’t believe he’s got an option at Williams.”
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage
Which teams could Esteban Ocon move to next year?
Esteban Ocon doesn’t appear to have left Alpine because he knows he has something concrete lined up for next year.
If he’s going to stay in Formula 1, it’s going to be with a team that are also fighting towards the back of the grid.
RB already have too many drivers to fit into their cars in 2025, while Aston Martin’s line-up is basically set in stone.
Ocon is an option for Audi if they miss out on Carlos Sainz and he would be a strong teammate for Nico Hulkenberg.
Haas have also included Ocon on their shortlist, but it doesn’t appear as if the Frenchman is anyone’s first choice.
He may need the driver’s market to shake out in a certain way to continue being a Formula 1 driver next year.
The post ‘Doors seem closed’: Sky journalist believes £1.1bn F1 team have already ruled out Esteban Ocon move appeared first on F1 Oversteer.