Renault announced that they have ditched Nico Hulkenberg and snatched Mercedes reserve driver Esteban Ocon for the 2020 Formula One racing season.
Before becoming Mercedes’ reserve driver this season, Ocon had been a reserve driver for Renault in 2016 and drove for Force India in 2018 before that team was taken over by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Strulovitch [aka Lawrence Stroll] and became Racing Point.
Ocon has now joined Renault on a “multi-year-contract” where he will partner with Renault’s top driver – Australian Daniel Ricciardo – replacing German Nico Hulkenberg.
Ocon was initially slated to join Renault for this season – until Ricciardo suddenly indicated a desire to leave Red Bull and be the top dog at Renault.
Hulkenberg, meanwhile, holds the record for longest F1 career without a podium finish and currently sits a dismal 14th in the drivers’ standings but is speculated to be headed toward Haas where Frenchman Romain Grosjean is expected to be on his way out the door.