Mercedes to help F1 star after SHOCK exit

Mercedes will work with Esteban Ocon to keep the French driver on the grid after it was announced he would be leaving Alpine at the end of the 2024 season.

The 27-year-old will depart the Enstone team after five years racing together in F1, though their relationship extends back to Ocon's teenage years.

READ MORE: How Ocon's Alpine exit could impact ANDRETTI F1 entry

Ocon has enjoyed success at the team formerly known as Renault, including a shock win in Hungary in 2021.

Recently, however, the relationship has become stretched after Ocon's collision with teammate Pierre Gasly in Monaco piled on the tension.

Could Mercedes connections land Ocon a 2025 seat?

Ocon first joined the Mercedes' F1 junior team in 2015, and became their reserve driver in 2019 after missing out on a race seat that season.

As per his own admission earlier this year, Ocon remains a Mercedes junior driver, and added that "even if I'm not that junior anymore, I'm still contracted with them at some stage."

With Ocon again looking for a drive, it is reported by the Mirror that the German team will step in to help secure the Frenchman a seat where necessary.

“Mercedes, though, will still support Ocon despite his impending Alpine exit," Daniel Moxon writes.

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"And Mirror Sport understands that the team will continue to work with the Frenchman and do their best to ensure he still has a place on the grid next year.

“The 27-year-old continues to be supported by the team and they will be part of the efforts to find the driver his next home on the F1 grid.”

READ MORE: RANKED: Potential Esteban Ocon replacements at Alpine

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