07 February 2024 , 16:25
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Esteban Ocon pointed to his strong relationship with Mercedes as he was quizzed about being Lewis Hamilton's potential successor.
Ocon was speaking moments after his Alpine team launched its 2024 car which chiefs say has been completely designed from scratch. But the focus was on the Frenchman's candidacy for the seat Hamilton will vacate when he joins Ferrari at the end of the year.
He said: "It is clear that I have good links with Mercedes. I'm still managed by them, in a way, even if I'm not that junior any more! But my focus is on the racing and the plan that we have with Alpine.
"I need to focus on what's on track, which is the most important thing. If that goes well, then there will always be talks, rumours - the things that you guys love! That's what happens when you do a good job."
The start of the new season is still a few weeks away but already there has been seismic activity in the driver market. Even before Hamilton announced his blockbuster move, Lando Norris ruled himself out of a Red Bull switch by signing a new McLaren contract and Charles Leclerc also committed his future to Ferrari.
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And Carlos Sainz finds himself displaced by Hamilton's impending arrival, meaning the Spaniard will have to find a new home for 2025. With so many people out of contract this year an active driver market was expected, but even Ocon cannot quite believe how soon it has burst into life.
He said: "I knew it was going to be a crazy season for sure, but I didn't think it was going to start that early. In January, it's early. But it's going to be like that all year so you guys will have a lot of things to write. I think the earlier [the driver market is set] the better."
Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly has not been so strongly-linked with the Mercedes vacancy. But the 28-year-old made it clear he too will not be satisfied with driving around in the midfield forever.
He said: "As a driver, I want to fight at the top of Formula 1. That's what I do - I'm working every single day to try to shave every single thousandth of a second, for a win, because I want to fight for wins.
"I've been fighting all my life with Max [Verstappen], Charles, Lando, George [Russell], all these guys. That's where I want to be, ultimately. I really hope we manage to [achieve] that potential with Alpine."