[PapaofGags]

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/905704/1/m...ears-wolff

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Esteban Ocon won’t be released from its junior programme and is convinced the French driver will show rival teams “made a mistake”

With his future at Force India looking effectively over following the Laurence Stroll-led takeover, which is likely to see his son Lance Stroll join the team, Ocon is facing 2019 without an F1 race seat with a final option at Williams appearing to be his only opportunity.
Both Red Bull and McLaren used Ocon’s ties to Mercedes as a key reason behind rejecting the 22-year-old which Wolff sees as a political move which he describes as ‘hidden agendas’.

The Mercedes boss remains confident of Ocon’s future in F1 despite his uncertain 2019 prospects and ruled out the possibility of releasing the French driver to improve his chances of landing a race seat.

“Not in a million years [will Ocon be released], because one day he is going to be in a Mercedes and win races and championships, and show all the others out there that they made a mistake,” Wolff said.