Mercedes May Have Found the Perfect Replacement for Lewis Hamilton in Esteban Ocon – Head of Junior Programme Offers Insight on Future Plans
Esteban Ocon, currently racing for Alpine in Formula One, could be the perfect replacement for Lewis Hamilton when the Brit retires, according to Mercedes’ head of the junior program. Gwen Lagrue has revealed that Ocon, who joined Mercedes at the age of 15, is still managed by the German team and is seen as a potential future star. Hamilton’s current contract with Mercedes will take him through until the end of 2025, but the seven-time world champion will be approaching his 40s by then.
If Hamilton decides to call time on his career, Ocon could be the ideal candidate to take his place.
Ocon, who has spent time with both Alpine and Force India (now Aston Martin), has shown glimpses of his potential and will be hoping to become a regular race winner in the coming years. He has won once in his career so far, triumphing at the 2020 Hungarian Grand Prix. Ocon has also finished on the podium six times in his career. While he may not quite be at the level of Hamilton, he could be the ideal candidate to continue the Mercedes legacy in With Hamilton’s contract expiring at the age of 41.
Mercedes could be facing a succession crisis if the seven-time world champion opts to hang up his racing gloves. While teenager Kimi Antonelli has shown promise, he is not yet ready to compete at the top level. Enter Esteban Ocon, a former junior driver for the team who has proven himself at the highest level. He could be the ideal candidate to fill the void left by Hamilton and continue the success of the German team.
While Ocon’s career had not always been smooth sailing – he was left without a drive for the 2019 season before being reinstated in the sport – his ascent to a race winner with Alpine has shown he has the talent to compete at the top level. He may not have the natural flair of a Lewis Hamilton, but he is a robust, consistent competitor who could make the most of any opportunities that come his way. If Hamilton does decide to call it a day, Ocon would be an interesting choice to replace him, especially as he already has experience driving for Mercedes-powered teams.
If he is given the chance, Ocon could blossom into a fine replacement for Hamilton.
While he may never reach the same heights as one of the greatest drivers of all time, Ocon has the talent and mentality to thrive in the Mercedes environment. And who knows, he could even one day emerge from Hamilton’s shadow to become a world champion in his own right. Hamilton’s presence at Mercedes will continue to cast a long shadow, but Ocon may be just the man to fill his shoes.
Of course, there is still plenty of time for Hamilton to decide whether or not he wants to continue racing beyond the end of his current contract. But for now, Ocon is content to focus on his job with Alpine and learn from the experienced Fernando Alonso.
But if the opportunity to drive for the Brackley-based team does arise in the future, Ocon would surely jump at the chance. Could he one day be the next great Mercedes driver, following in the footsteps of legends like Hamilton and Michael Schumacher? Only time will tell, but Ocon has shown he has what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
If Hamilton were to step away from Formula One in the coming years, Ocon could be the ideal replacement to continue the team’s rich history of success.
