P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ocon retains "strong links" to Mercedes amid Hamilton F1 replacement rumours
Esteban Ocon, currently with Alpine, has always had strong links with Mercedes and is still a Mercedes junior driver. While he acknowledges the speculation about him potentially replacing Hamilton, Ocon remains dedicated to Alpine and focused on his current team. He recognizes the importance of performing well on track, regardless of contract status. Ocon was surprised by Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari, which he considers unexpected. Meanwhile, his teammate Pierre Gasly was aware of talks between Hamilton and Ferrari, and believes it was kept secret for some time. Gasly wishes Hamilton the best and sees it as an exciting new challenge for the sport.
