GP3 Series Champion and Mercedes Junior driver Esteban Ocon has admitted that he would rather a move to DTM over the GP2 Series in 2016.
“I don’t know what I’m doing yet, but I think the tendency is more towards DTM. If I had to choose between DTM and GP2, I would go towards DTM. It’s not decided yet, maybe it will be GP2, I don’t know,” Ocon said to Autosport.
The 19-year-old Frenchman was confirmed as a junior driver with the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Team for the 2016 season, but his role within the team is yet to be confirmed.
Ocon will share Formula 1 duties with current DTM Champion, Pascal Wehrlein, admitted Toto Wolff in Abu Dhabi.
After a season long battle against closest rivals Luca Ghiotto and Marvin Kirchhöfer, Esteban Ocon claimed the GP3 Series Championship at the final round in Abu Dhabi in his debut season with ART Grand Prix, scoring a total of 253 points. The Frenchman finished on the podium numerous times but only one of them resulting in a top step finish, after penalties had denied Ocon two other opportunities.
At the final round of the season in Hockenheim, Ocon was set to make his DTM debut after Daniel Juncadella had fallen ill before the first practice session, but the Frenchman’s chances were halted when the Spaniard was deemed fit enough to compete and retook his seat for the rest of the weekend.
“It’s Toto’s decision not mine,” continued Ocon. “I’m just very happy to be part of the Mercedes programme. If he wants to put [Wehrlein] before me it’s his choice. I’m just very fortunate to be here already and I can’t be unhappy about his choice.”
