Vowles removes Ocon from Williams 2025 shortlist

Esteban Ocon's future F1 destination won't be Williams despite the Frenchman visiting the Grove-based outfit’s headquarters recently, according to team boss James Vowles.

While Alex Albon renewed his commitment to Williams for the upcoming two seasons, the team has yet to fill its second seat for 2025, with incumbent Logan Sargeant unlikely to retain his drive.

Williams still ambitions to work with coveted free agent Carlos Sainz, but the outgoing Ferrari driver remains non-committal as he ponders offers from Sauber-Audi and Alpine, and possibly Mercedes.

In Hungary, Vowles revealed that he had held talks recently with Ocon, who even enjoyed a seat-fitting with the team for evaluation purposes.

“Esteban came in for, not a real seat fit, but I wanted to evaluate him for 2025 and 2026,” Vowles told Motorsport.com.

“I needed to do that because I need to actually ascertain whether he fit in the car or not. Because he’s, as is Alex, a tall chap, but his dimensions are a bit difficult in certain dimensions.

• Read also: Sargeant vows to 'fight to the end' amid Williams seat speculation

“Everything we are doing at the moment is – just to clarify that one – for ’25 and beyond on drivers, nothing else. He was definitely a consideration.

“I’ve known him for many years, obviously, at Mercedes, [he] fell under myself and Toto [Wolff] and Gwen’s [Lagrue] management and looked after him.”

Vowles continued to closely monitor Ocon’s performances with Alpine, and the Briton was particularly impressed with how the Frenchman measured up against his rapid teammate Fernando Alonso during their two seasons together.

“He’s been mighty quick,” added Vowles. “You don’t outqualify Fernando unless you are mighty.

“If you create the right environment around him, he can be very strong. So that’s why he was a consideration.”

Vowles has since removed Ocon from Williams’ shortlist as all signs point to the 2021 Hungarian GP winner moving to Haas for 2025.

“I think where he is at the moment our paths won’t cross and I think it’s a shame because there’s certain bits that I can see would work,” said the Williams boss.

“But other bits that I just don’t think will work in the time frame we have as well. But what I can say is I’m confident he will have a very successful future in Formula 1.”

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