Esteban Ocon “not at all” disappointed to leave Mercedes for Renault

Ocon was signed on as Mercedes reserve driver for 2019 and looked in line for a seat at the Silver Arrows before they opted to keep Bottas for another year during the summer.

This decision meant that the Frenchman could be released to Renault to partner Daniel Ricciardo and replace Nico Hulkenberg.

The 23-year old isn’t disappointed to leave the world champions with the plan Renault have for the future.

"I'm with a French team that has big ambitions to return to the top level in a few years, so clearly it is not at all a disappointment. Rather, it's a relief,” he told RMC.
 
"Renault's ambitions for 2020 will be to do better than this year.
 
"This year we clearly underperformed, so the team wants to do much better than that. It is not the ambition to be fifth.”
 
Along with Renault’s ambitions of progressing up to the front of the grid Ocon wants to finish on the podium during his return to Formula 1.
 
"From there, we will have to progress, developing the car and getting closer to the three big teams,” he added.
 
“My personal goal is to be on the podium during the season. I think that if we can do that, it will mean we have taken a big step forward."