Mercedes will support the career of highly-rated youngster Esteban Ocon, with the Frenchman also signing an option with the German manufacturer which could see him race for one of their motorsport teams in the future.
Eighteen-year-old Ocon is the reigning European Formula 3 after beating new Toro Rosso driver Max Verstappen to the title in 2014 and this weekend in Spain will make his GP3 debut with ART. He made his F1 bow with Lotus in Practice One at last season’s finale in Abu Dhabi, before driving for the team again in the post-season test.
For 2015, Ocon will now receive backing from Mercedes with the rising star also named as the test and reserve driver to their DTM team. The contractual option he has signed also “could see him become a fully-fledged Mercedes-Benz driver in the future”.
"Esteban is a mega-talented young guy and one of the stars of the future. I'm pleased we've found a good path to continue his relationship with Mercedes-Benz, because we have a strong tradition of supporting the best young drivers with a view to their long-term potential,” said Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff.
“We will be watching Esteban's progress with a lot of interest and I hope this year will be the first of many working together."
Ocon, who claimed nine wins en-route to beating Tom Blomqvist and Verstappen to the F3 crown by over 50 points, is now looking to repay Mercedes’ faith in him by becoming GP3 champion this year.
"I'm really proud to have the support of Mercedes-Benz this season and that the Mercedes AMG DTM team has trusted me with the important role of test and reserve driver.
“I spent last weekend with the DTM team in Hockenheim and hope that I can play a valuable role this year. But my main focus is on the opening races of the GP3 Series this weekend.
“I am proud to be racing with support from Mercedes-Benz and in a fantastic team like ART Grand Prix. I hope that I can compete for the title this year, starting with strong results in Barcelona."
Mercedes already have 20-year-old Pascal Wehrlein on their books, with the German combining his racing duties in DTM with a reserve role to Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg for the carmaker's F1 team.