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Ocon retains "strong links" to Mercedes amid Hamilton F1 replacement rumours
Esteban Ocon, who is currently driving for Alpine, is out of contract at the end of this season and is considered a potential candidate to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes due to his strong ties with team boss Toto Wolff. Ocon addressed the speculation for the first time, stating that he maintains strong links with Mercedes but is fully dedicated to Alpine at the moment. He emphasized the importance of performing well on track, regardless of contract status, as a strong performance will always lead to talks and rumors. Ocon also expressed surprise at Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari, particularly regarding the timing of the announcement.