Renault has revealed their third driver for next season Esteban Ocon is actually on loan to them from Mercedes as he is still under contract with the German constructor.
Renault Sport managing director Cyril Abiteboul announced the news at Renault’s launch in Paris on Wednesday.
“Esteban is great new addition for us for this year, and we are very excited to be taking part in his development,” he said.
“For the time being he is on a loan basis, it is happening in football – and then who knows?”
Ocon became GP3 champion with ART during his rookie year in 2015, he managed this alongside his DTM and Mercedes reserve driver duties, winning one race and claiming 14 pole positions Ocon finished the season eight points ahead of his closest challenger.
The consistency he showed during the 2015 season has earned him plaudits from within Formula One and GP3 with many believing he has the potential to go on to great things in an F1 car. The new Renault sporting director Fredric Vasseur seems to believe the same, with him implying Ocon could be rewarded with a Formula One drive in the near future.
“If I was considering that he’s not potentially a contender [for a future in F1], it would make no sense for me to ask him to jump,” said Vasseur.
“I’ve known Esteban for a long time now, he has a very good team spirit.”
With Mercedes clearly not wanting to lose their young starlets services there could be a battle in the foreseeable future for the young Frenchman’s signature between themselves and Renault.
