Formula 1 Hungarian GP
Exclusive: Williams explains purpose behind Ocon's F1 seat-fitting
Ocon was a consideration for Williams, but not for this year
Ben Hunt
Edited: Jul 19, 2024, 11:49 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Esteban Ocon, Alpine F1 Team
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Williams boss James Vowles says Esteban Ocon's visit to the Formula 1 team's factory was aimed at evaluating the Frenchman for a future drive, ruling out a move this year.
Ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Motorsport.com's Italian edition reported that Williams had considered making a mid-season swoop of Ocon, who has not had his contract renewed at Alpine for next season, as a replacement for Logan Sargeant.
However, Vowles says that the focus on Ocon was purely with next season in mind and confirmed that any move for the Frenchman is now unlikely.
Ocon's destination now looks likely to be Haas following Kevin Magnussen's departure at the end of this campaign.
The news means Valtteri Bottas could be in line for a return to Williams, although the Grove squad has not yet given up hope of signing Carlos Sainz.
Vowles told Motorsport.com he made a personal check on Ocon, but admits their respective "paths won't cross" in time for next season.
Vowles worked with Ocon when he was part of the Mercedes junior driver programme alongside Gwen Lagrue, who heads up the programme, and says he is confident he will have a bright future in F1, only not with Williams.
"Esteban came in for, not a real seat fit, but I wanted to evaluate him for 2025 and 2026," Vowles told Autosport/Motorsport.com in Hungary.
Logan Sargeant, Williams Racing, James Vowles, Williams Racing Team Principal
Photo by: Williams
"I needed to do that because I need to actually ascertain whether he fit in the car or not. Because he's, as is Alex [Albon], a tall chap, but his dimensions are a bit difficult in certain dimensions.
"Everything we are doing at the moment is - just to clarify that one - for '25 and beyond on drivers, nothing else.
"He was definitely a consideration. I've known him for many years, obviously, at Mercedes, [he] fell under myself and Toto [Wolff] and Gwen's management and looked after him.
"He's been mighty quick. You don't outqualify Fernando [Alonso] unless you are mighty. If you create the right environment around him, he can be very strong. So that's why he was a consideration."
He added: "I think where he is at the moment our paths won't cross and I think it's a shame because there's certain bits that I can see would work.
"But other bits that I just don't think will work in the time frame we have as well. But what I can say is I'm confident he will have a very successful future in Formula 1."
Read Also:
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article The deflated Sargeant defiance amid more mid-season Williams F1 seat threat
Next article F1 live: Hungarian GP practice as it happened
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Ben Hunt
How Jonathan Wheatley wants Sauber to use F1 podium momentum in Audi transformation
Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
Jul 13, 2025
How Jonathan Wheatley wants Sauber to use F1 podium momentum in Audi transformation
How Christian Horner’s Red Bull exit mirrored his F1 arrival and why he will be missed
Formula 1
Formula 1 Jul 10, 2025
How Christian Horner’s Red Bull exit mirrored his F1 arrival and why he will be missed
Keanu Reeves to star in new Cadillac F1 team documentary
Formula 1
Formula 1
Austrian GP
Jul 2, 2025
Keanu Reeves to star in new Cadillac F1 team documentary
More from
Esteban Ocon
Fred Vasseur personally contributed $1m to Esteban Ocon’s first F1 drive
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
5 d
Fred Vasseur personally contributed $1m to Esteban Ocon’s first F1 drive
Ayao Komatsu: Esteban Ocon axing ‘surprised everybody at Haas’
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
6 d
Ayao Komatsu: Esteban Ocon axing ‘surprised everybody at Haas’
More from
Williams
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
What the Brazilian GP revealed about F1's ability to cope with rain
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 d
What the Brazilian GP revealed about F1's ability to cope with rain
Latest news
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
51 min
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
3 h
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe