European Formula Three champion Esteban Ocon has been added to Force India’s driver roster for this week’s two-day test at the Circuit de Catalunya.
Ocon, who joined Mercedes’ young driver development programme last week, will drive for their engine customer tomorrow at the Spanish track.
The 18-year-old won on his GP3 debut last weekend and currently leads the points standings.
Force India originally intended to run Mercedes reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein today but he is unavailable due to illness, leading the team to bring Nick Yelloly’s planned run forward by one day.
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mickey18 (@mickey18)
12th May 2015, 11:40
Might be interesting Keith to do a poll based on who everyone thinks will be on the grid in 5 years time. Sort of like the ‘people who aren’t in F1’ poll a few weeks ago.
We could be pretty confident people like Ocon, Vandoorne, will be there. From the current grid, Hamilton, Vettel, Verstappen etc..
And maybe the kids Leclerc, Russell..
Robert (@gicu)
12th May 2015, 11:57
Great idea!
mantresx (@mantresx)
12th May 2015, 16:05
+1
Duc Pham (@ducpham2708)
12th May 2015, 16:22
It’s frightening that in a few years time those we once considered “young talents” such as Hamilton and Vettel will become veteran like Alonso or Jenson and will eventually make place for younger stars to shine.
CountryGent (@countrygent)
12th May 2015, 15:44
Ocon, Vandoorne and Lynn are some of the greatest crops of single seater racing in recent years. Lynn especially, with a reported eight figure budget and prospect of Bottas’ Williams seat opening up, is looking strong for a 2016 F1 debut. I can’t help but feel Gasly and Marciello’s testing mileage is a consolation prize for there not being a space on the grid for either of them. Great drivers both, but not great enough.
Eoin (@eoin16)
12th May 2015, 17:09
Every time I see one of the young Ferrari drivers test I can’t help but think that they are driving the car that was due to belong to Jules. I honestly don’t think Ferrari would be considering the option they have on Kimi for 2016 if Jules was still available. He would have been the perfect fast, young driver that Ferrari want to pair with Vettel for the future.
#ForzaJules #ToutAvecJules
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
12th May 2015, 17:40
Surely there was somebody with more money and less talent available?!
bosyber (@bosyber)
13th May 2015, 5:09
@bullfrog Of course, like Wherlein, Ocon is connected to Mercedes ; that money probably comes in Form of lower engine bill, and they didn’t even have to go for money over talent, win win, for once.