Aug.3 (GMM) Esteban Ocon looks set to be the next teenage charger to make his mark in formula one.
Backed by Mercedes, the Frenchman is on loan to Renault this year as reserve and occasional Friday driver.
And international media sources claim Ocon is first in line to emerge after the summer break as the replacement at Manor for Rio Haryanto, giving Mercedes a direct comparison between him and fellow Mercedes junior Pascal Wehrlein.
Not only that, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff is recommending to Renault that it promote Ocon for a full race seat at the French works team for 2017.
“Esteban has an impeccable personality — he really is a nice and intelligent young man. And his performance in the car is extraorrdinary.
“He did two sensational test days with us at Silverstone and we saw that he did the same time as (Kevin) Magnussen in Friday free practice, so he is someone who has a big future,” Wolff told the French broadcaster Canal Plus.
“I hope that my colleagues realise all of this, otherwise it will be us who will be taking him back!” the Austrian smiled.