Williams will determine Ocon’s 2019 plans – Wolff

Esteban Ocon’s future now ultimately rests on Williams and the decision it takes with its driver line-up for the 2019 Formula 1 season, according to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

Ocon looks set to lose his seat to Williams driver Lance Stroll for next year, who is expected to follow his father Lawrence to Force India after the Canadian businessman led a consortium to rescue the Silverstone outfit amid its off-track financial issues.

A series of events, including the takeover of Force India, Daniel Ricciardo’s shock switch to Renault and McLaren’s decision to promote Lando Norris alongside Carlos Sainz, all worked against the highly-rated Frenchman.

Williams is currently in the process of evaluating which driver it wants to place to partner fellow Mercedes junior and F2 championship leader George Russell, while Wolff, who has managed Ocon’s career, admitted the final call is “not in our hands”.

“[There is] no [update] - I think we’ve just kind of settled in the situation where we might need to find the right seat for him in 2020 and have a gap year and integrate him a lot in the team, and he can contribute to the team performance,” Wolff said.

“He and us, we’ve kind of got our head around it, even though it’s not perfect, unless a last-minute opportunity opens up at Williams. But it’s not in our hands. It’s for the team to decide.”

Deputy team principle Claire Williams has previously said the British squad is not in “any mad rush” to decide upon its second driver but stressed talent will play a predominant role.

But Wolff is not expecting a quick resolution to the situation.

“I think Claire will take a decision that is in the best interests of Williams commercially and driver-wise, and she hasn’t come to that point yet,” he added.

“It’s not going to happen any time soon.”