Force India role and appearances possible for Ocon in '19

Esteban Ocon could be in line for some Formula 1 outings with Force India in 2019 as part of a potential test or reserve role, according to team principal Otmar Szafnauer.

Despite impressing in a Force India race seat since joining the team at the start of 2017, Ocon is set to be dropped for 2019 in favour of Lance Stroll, whose father, Lawrence Stroll, led a consortium that rescued the team with a financial takeover in the summer.

Mercedes junior Ocon is braced for a year on the sidelines if he cannot land a seat at Williams, which he recognised as his last shot of a place on the F1 grid in 2019.

Ocon is widely expected to take up a reserve role with Mercedes in the hope of landing a seat in F1 for 2020, and Szafnauer said this could extend to continued involvement with Force India.

“We will look after him if need be,” Szafnauer said.

“Third car, simulator, he does a great job for us, if need be.

“But hopefully he will find something else. We will help him, he’s very good.

“You bide your time for a year. I mean how long was [Kimi] Raikkonen out? Two years? He came back and still did well. He’s young enough, talented enough.”

Asked if there was a scenario where Ocon could get time in the Force India car, Szafnauer said: “That could happen too. None of that is decided but that could happen too.

“If you’re doing simulator work, the only way to develop the simulator and the car is to be in the car once in a while.

“As you’re actually simulating the car, you need to be current, otherwise your usefulness as a simulator driver decreases.”

While Ocon would not count towards Force India’s young driver allocation for in-season testing in 2019, he would be free to appear in the tests with the team, as well as in pre- and post-season running.