Silly season in full swing: This driver suddenly holds all the cards

Not Carlos Sainz, not Max Verstappen, not Kimi Antonelli. With the silly season in full swing, another driver suddenly appears to be the focus of plenty of teams' interest. Alpine would like to keep him, he is the most serious option if Mercedes cannot persuade Max Verstappen, and Kimi Antonelli does not yet appear ready for F1. Now Audi, as well as Haas F1, would also like him: Esteban Ocon.

Ocon is by no means making an indelible impression this season. Of course, there is not much to be gained from the dramatic Alpine, the team that has one point in the Constructors' Championship thanks to Ocon. For Ocon, it is annoying that a quick improvement in terms of results cannot be expected. Last weekend in Imola, for example, his teammate Pierre Gasly complained that Alpine had actually taken a step backwards.

Alpine is keen to keep Ocon for '25. The question is whether Ocon is interested in a new commitment, knowing that Alpine are light years away from being competitive in Formula 1. Especially with the many personnel changes that are still going on within the team, it could easily be years before the French manage to compete structurally for podiums, let alone victories. Is that an attractive prospect for Ocon, who has proven to win races?

Mercedes does not have its act together at the moment either, but that team seems a more attractive option for Ocon. At least, if he is willing to wait and see what Verstappen does and how Antonelli develops in the coming months. Should things come to nothing with both of these drivers, team boss Toto Wolff sees Ocon as the best possible option to take a seat alongside George Russell. Another detail is this: Wolff is currently Ocon's manager.

Opportunities for Ocon suddenly seem plentiful. Audi also has its eyes firmly on the Frenchman, now that the German's advances towards Carlos Sainz seem to go unanswered. Before the end of the month, Audi would like to know from Sainz: 'Do you do it or don't you?' If the answer is negative, Ocon would suddenly be the candidate for the future factory team, still driving around in '25 under the name Stake F1. Next year, in that case, a supporting role in Formula 1 probably awaits Ocon again, but the huge chunk of money Audi is willing to pay may make up for a lot.

And then there is that small outsider. That Oliver Bearman will race for Haas F1 in '25 is an open secret. We are waiting for the official announcement. Besides the Briton, Haas would like to have a seasoned driver, and that is apparently not Kevin Magnussen. The Dane cannot stand in the shadow of his teammate Nico Hulkenberg this season and seems to be on his way out. Ocon - a single Grand Prix winner - should be Magnussen's successor.