After making his Formula 1 debut earlier this year, it has been announced that Esteban Ocon will drive for Force India in 2017.
Esteban Ocon to join Force India in 2017
Esteban Ocon is set to join the Force India F1 Team for 2017, where he will partner Sergio Perez. It is understood that Ocon has secured a multi-year deal with the Silverstone based outfit.
Ocon made his Formula 1 debut halfway through the 2016 Season at the Belgian Grand Prix, replacing Rio Haryanto at Manor after the young Indonesian driver faced financial issues, meaning that he could no longer fund his seat at the team.
While at Manor, Ocon has gained vital Formula 1 experience, being the team mate to Pascal Wehrlein.
Earlier this year, Ocon was linked to a move to the Renault F1 Team for 2017 where he would partner Nico Hulkenberg. Being the team’s third driver and being of French nationality, Ocon would have been the ideal fit for the manufacturer. However, Hulkenberg’s departure to Renault left the final seat at Force India available.
Being a Mercedes Young Driver, and with Force India using Mercedes engines, Ocon was the perfect candidate for the second seat at the team for 2017. As well as this, Ocon acted as the Force India’s test driver in 2015, meaning that he is familiar with the team already.
Although only 20 years old, Esteban Ocon is not short of experience, being crowned champion of the Formula 3 series in 2014, and becoming the GP3 Champion in 2015, where he secured a staggering eleven consecutive podiums driving for ART Grand Prix.
Ocon has been described has one of the hottest young talents in Formula 1 currently, and is in frame to drive for Mercedes in the near future, with his nearest chance coming in 2018, when the contracts of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg both expire.
With Ocon partnering Sergio Perez at Force India, the team have a perfect blend of youth and experience, making their 2017 driver line up an exciting prospect.
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