French Method One driver Esteban Ocon on Thursday confirmed his “robust hyperlinks” with Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Staff following Lewis Hamilton’s dramatic swap to Scuderia Ferrari after the tip of the 2024 season. Talking to Sky Sports activities, Ocon mentioned that there is not any “secret” that he’s nonetheless a Mercedes junior driver. “I clearly nonetheless have robust hyperlinks with Mercedes, I am nonetheless a Mercedes junior driver, that’s no secret to anybody,” Ocon mentioned as quoted by Sky Sports activities. The Alpine F1 Staff driver added that this season he’s “completely devoted” to his present French facet and looking out ahead to the upcoming season of Method One. “However I am completely devoted to Alpine this 12 months, I’ve obtained 24 races to get via and we’ll see the place we find yourself,” he mentioned.

“Method 1 is fierce, a whole lot of issues can occur, as we will see, however I am able to tackle the problem,” he added.

After information of Hamilton’s departure was confirmed, many names surfaced about who may exchange the seven-time World Champion.

Earlier, the Staff Principal of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Staff Toto Wolff confirmed that George Russell would be the subsequent “lead driver” of the crew after the tip of the 2024 season.

“With all of the Lewis dialogue, one thing that has not been talked about sufficient is George. George has the potential to be the following lead driver within the crew. He’s of the era of Lando (Norris) and (Charles) Leclerc and among the others,” mentioned Wolff, in keeping with Sky Sports activities.

Final week, Ferrari shocked the sporting world by asserting that the seven-time world champion will be a part of the Italian crew for the 2025 Method One season on a multi-year contract.

The information brings an finish to Hamilton’s what’s presently a 17-year-long relationship in F1 with Mercedes-Benz and an 11-year-long partnership with the works crew.