Lewis Hamilton believes Esteban Ocon's exceptional performances warrant a drive with a top team rather than the Frenchman being pushed aside by a team putting money before talent.
Ocon - a Mercedes protégé since his junior years in the sport - hasn't put foot wrong since his graduation to the big time two years ago, displaying flair, speed and consistency as he elevated himself to one of the sport's brightest prospects.
Hopes of a drive with Renault in 2019 were squashed by Daniel Ricciardo's surprise decision to move to the French outfit next season, but a third year at Force India's for Ocon has also been discarded following the team's acquisition by a Lawrence Stroll-led consortium and the probable recruitment of his son, Lance, perhaps as soon as this year.
In Saturday's Belgian GP post-qualifying press conference, Hamilton offered his view on the 21-year-old's predicament, and pointed to F1's flawed structure as its main cause.
"Unfortunately we're in a weird place in Formula 1 where some teams, rather than take the up-and-coming kid, they take the money," said the day's poleman.
"It means the structure of the sport is probably wrong, in terms of how the funds are distributed.
"I've not read who has signed where and what seats are available but he needs to be in a top car as he is one of the top drivers here.
"You can't let someone who has more money leap in front of a better driver. It shouldn't happen. The governing body definitely has to [address it] somehow."
Interestingly, right after qualifying, Sebastan Vettel was caught on camera questioning Ocon about his future, according to Motorsport.com which wrote a transcript of the exchange.
Vettel: "Next year, where are you going? You are staying here?"
Ocon: "No, it [the seat] is taken."
Vettel: "Oh yeah? By who?"
Ocon: "Have a guess! The one who bought it!"
Later, Vettel echoed Hamilton's view, insisting Ocon "should be considered for signing him somewhere next year", after witnessing his run to P3 in qualifying.
"From the outside it's difficult to judge but I think he's doing everything right," Vettel added.
"It's very good to get this qualifying session under the belt, get the car in P3 where it doesn't belong, I think that shows enough in a session like that that can be quite chaotic and you can easily do a mistake.
"To hold it together is crucial and that's what he did."
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