Ocon's Williams chances are "pretty grim"

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has suggested that Esteban Ocon's chances of driving for Williams next season are "pretty grim".

Ocon is set to be leaving Force India at the end of the season, after Lance Stroll's father Lawrence taking over the team and his son expected to join the team with him.

The French driver has seen opportunities to move to Renault and McLaren slip away from him with the likes of Carlos Sainz Jr. and Daniel Ricciardo moving to the two teams.

There was speculation in the media that Mercedes were looking to buy out Valtteri Bottas' contract and put Ocon alongside Lewis Hamilton for 2019 - but the chances of that are gone now and Wolff thinks his chances of driving in Formula One next season are almost gone.

"I think the chances for next year are pretty grim," Wolff told Sky Sports F1. "That hasn't changed really for the last two months and we are thinking about 2020.

"He is going to be involved in all our development in the Mercedes car and then we will see where he ends up."

It looks almost certain that Ocon won't be an F1 driver for 2019; but will he stick around and become a Mercedes reserve driver - or will he go down a similar route to McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne; who is making the switch for Formula E next season.