Esteban Ocon will be replaced at Force India by Lance Stroll, whose father led a consortium which purchased the team in August.
The move has been expected since Stroll had a seat fitting at the Force India factory three months ago. The 20-year-old has taken the final place on the grid for the 2019 F1 season.Stroll described the move as “the beginning of an incredibly exciting journey in my Formula One career.
“I look forward to working alongside a successful team with a great culture. It’s a new challenge and I am excited to embrace this new opportunity.”
Stroll made his F1 debut with Williams last year following a lengthy private test programme in the team’s cars. He and his father have been dissatisfied with the team’s performance since joining them, as Williams fell from fifth in the championship in 2017 to 10th – and last – this year.
Force India team principal Otmar Szafnauer said: “I’m pleased that we can finally confirm Lance’s arrival to race alongside Sergio next year.
“It gives us an exciting line-up with the perfect blend of youth, talent, and experience. Lance is only 20 and already has two years of Formula One experience under his belt, as well as a podium finish and a front row start.
“We see huge potential in Lance and believe we can create an environment in which he can flourish. Our team has enjoyed great success nurturing and developing young and talented drivers, and we are very excited to begin our journey with Lance.”
Ocon, who has become Mercedes’ reserve driver, is one of six drivers who will be replaced during the off-season. Fernando Alonso, Stoffel Vandoorne, Brendon Hartley, Marcus Ericsson and Sergey Sirotkin will also not be racing in F1 next year.
“I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Esteban Ocon for his contribution to the team over the last two seasons and wish him well for the future,” added Szafnauer.
View the complete list of 2019 F1 drivers and teams
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Kyle Stephens
30th November 2018, 14:07
I did not see this one coming . . .
Brian (@bealzbob)
30th November 2018, 14:30
All we need now are the racing numbers for Kubica, Russell, Albon & Norris, the new name of Force India and then the grid is complete.
Uday Motwani
30th November 2018, 14:37
Kubica is 40 & Russell is 43?
GeeMac (@geemac)
30th November 2018, 15:17
Russell will be 63. It works surprisingly well with his personal “GR” logo.
Brian (@bealzbob)
30th November 2018, 15:58
My guess is 47 for Norris.
Jere (@jerejj)
5th December 2018, 16:38
@bealzbob 4 actually.
OOliver
1st December 2018, 16:39
Was it a 15 year contract?
black (@black)
30th November 2018, 14:08
Oh my god, that was unexpected!
rpiian (@rpiian)
30th November 2018, 14:12
That beard is… yikes…
Kobe (@im-a-kobe)
30th November 2018, 21:32
I think the beard looks good on him. Makes him look less like a child and more like an adult who’s using all the advantages he has within his reach to full effect, in order to achieve his life’s goals.
I’d like to give Lance the benefit of the doubt and remember that he is only 20 and has a lot of personal growth to come; he may surprise us all.
Green Flag (@greenflag)
1st December 2018, 0:28
The best surprise he could spring would be to resign his seat in favor of Ocon. He may even earn respect from both drivers and fans.
Esploratore (@esploratore)
1st December 2018, 1:45
Not any more, after brazil IMO stroll is more deserving.
Niickpkr251
1st December 2018, 17:26
Why Ocon don’t have a podium ? Oh yes cause he is crash prone, nice guy but overrated by sky commentators
Green Flag (@greenflag)
1st December 2018, 22:27
Ocon doesn’t have a podium because he has never driven for MB, RB or SF.
Jere (@jerejj)
30th November 2018, 14:15
Finally about time. One of the worst kept open secrets ever is now finally officially out. That beard, though.
Panagiotis Papatheodorou (@panagiotism-papatheodorou)
30th November 2018, 14:18
What a surprise /s.
smudgersmith1 (@smudgersmith1)
30th November 2018, 14:19
Money money money….
ColdFly (@)
30th November 2018, 15:11
I doubt there is any money involved; Stroll stops being a paydriver ;)
@smudgersmith1
We could call him a nepodriver though.
Or advancing in the family business starting at the bottom; i.e. the most dangerous job.
a (@aaaa)
1st December 2018, 4:15
^
I think a year to two in “The Team” & then he can have a sabbatical…..
trim the beard…, do a bit of modeling & roll back into the Team in one of a number of positions….PR man may suit him,as he does come across well with the media.
gotit
30th November 2018, 14:20
Big mistake. LS is a good starter other than that he is just s..t. Ask your self would he be racein without daddys cash. I hope am wrong but only time will tell.
Stephen Higgins
30th November 2018, 14:26
Something tells me when Kubica passes him on track next year there will be an almighty cheer …
Todfod (@todfod)
1st December 2018, 5:05
I’m now rooting for Williams to beat Force india next year. I know it’s a tall order.. But it’s not impossible.
The look on Lance’s face if that happens… Priceless!
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
30th November 2018, 14:27
Dropped my Monocle in shock and it broke. Is this site liable for compensation?
GeeMac (@geemac)
30th November 2018, 15:18
It was probably Ericsson’s fault.
Brian (@bealzbob)
30th November 2018, 17:01
I didn’t see the incident but I’m going to say Grosjean.
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
1st December 2018, 5:56
No, Race Fans will use one of their “out clauses” to avoid paying out, e.g. saying monocles are parse.
BaKano (@bakano)
30th November 2018, 14:27
Stroll as a Force India driver wont last very log … because the team will have a different name next year :-D
Joao (@johnmilk)
30th November 2018, 14:43
you guys know me, and I’m not the type of person that likes to create any sort of conflict, *chuckles*, and this is certainly not intended to do that. But! If we were to put Stroll next to Ocon, or better yet, if we would be reading this news, and the driver being given a seat was Ocon, could have we read this:
We couldn’t could we?
georgeboole (@)
30th November 2018, 20:37
@johnmilk we couldn’t.
Its just the way this guy has climbed up the ladder and i know we all agree on that. I just hope Stroll is not such a mess or his dad will fire him and get Ocon instead
Nickpkr251
1st December 2018, 17:31
We can say Ocon has crash every single car in the grid at one time or another
Dave
30th November 2018, 14:50
Beard!
Garns (@)
30th November 2018, 14:55
I actually feel sorry for both of them.
Ocon as he will be not driving F1 next year, when if given an equal car I think he would challenge Max. Gasly gets a drive in a top car, and thats great for him, but I think Ocon and Max next year may have been a better battle. Gasly will be great, but give him a year.
Lance Stroll in that photo looks crap- tired and bags under his eyes. He was either out sucking tequila with Checo, or is just a young man under pressure. Either way whatever the guy achieves in F1 will be just perceived as his dad is rich.
Seems loose:loose to me.
ColdFly (@)
30th November 2018, 15:19
It was Ocon’s own decision though not to take the Red Bull offer. Most likely in a STR car; buy than can change any race. @garns
And then suddenly this offer evaporated after Brazil.
Not sure how his father’s riches got him the podium and front row start :P
His driving skills might not resemble the brightest bulb in a shed full of sharp tools, but I’ve seen worse (even amongst the 2018 drivers).
hahostolze (@hahostolze)
30th November 2018, 15:21
@coldfly really? Who?
ColdFly (@)
30th November 2018, 15:36
Ericsson (taking into account his years of experience) and maybe Hartley.
@hahostolze
And then I’m kind to Stoffel, and trust that Fernando was Superlonso this year which caused the big gap between them.
Todfod (@todfod)
1st December 2018, 5:10
@coldfly
Don’t think Ericcson was that bad this season. He actually put in a lot of strong performances.
Hartley was poor, but then again it was his first full season in F1, while Lance was on his second.
I’d still have to give the worst driver of the year award to Lance. He actually moved backwards from last season… Which i didn’t think was possible.
ColdFly (@)
1st December 2018, 9:09
I try to rate drivers purely on the performance of this year; irrespective of tenure, age or experience.
@todfod
e.g. I don’t think it’s correct to rate Leclerc #1 this year (very strong races as a young rookie) and see him fall down the ranking next year even if he races as good as he did this year (with the rookie and poor car shine gone).
But having said that I haven’t made up my mind yet (will do some revisiting). But Hartley, Ericsson, Vandoorne, Sirotkin, Stroll will probably occupy the lower echelons in some order.
Todfod (@todfod)
2nd December 2018, 4:43
@coldfly
I cut rookies a little slack because there is a learning curve for them. They have to get to grips with a new racing series, new crew and new way of working. They just have a lot more on their plate than their experienced teammates. All of this does affect their on track performances.
Rockie (@rockie)
30th November 2018, 15:29
Exactly this, it’s like the guys who keep on harping about the Hulk while Perez who was scoring podiums along side him.
Stroll got a podium on merit something Ocon hasn’t managed but somehow its his Dads money.
mmertens (@mmertens)
30th November 2018, 17:39
To be fair, Stroll’s podium was obtained on the freakiest race from the last 4 years, it was a good achievement for sure, but it doesn’t mean to me he is a driver who can drive consistently to achieve podiums by his superior skills. I cannot see any outstanding drive for him in two years, only that great qualifying performance at Monza. But for me it’s not enough for being in F1. Like I said many times, to me he’s a kind of Nelson Piquet Jr, there are skills there, but the money talked thru all their career. Solely on skills, both wouldn’t have made to F1.
Lancer033 (@lancer033)
30th November 2018, 17:48
Maldonado even won a race, 1 good race doesn’t make a career.
Rockie
1st December 2018, 7:37
@mmertens
That’s what you do when you are not in a front running car score big in a freaky race.
Rockie
1st December 2018, 7:40
@lancer033
Maybe you need to check how many drivers have won a race and how hard it is to win a race before you actually dismiss a race win like that.
Todfod (@todfod)
1st December 2018, 5:15
@rockie
Come on dude… Did you even watch Baku last year? The race was a lottery. The only noteworthy moment in his entire career was his qualifying at Monza last year. Even his race at Monza was fairly poor.. As Massa was quicker and on his tail by the end of the race despite his starting position.
His dad might not have bought him a podium and a front row start, but he bought Lance a seat in F1 and to ensure his son stays there despite his performance levels.. He bought him a team.
Do you actually think Lance is on the 2019 grid on merit?
Rockie
1st December 2018, 7:46
@todfod
It still amazes him this merit thing everyone gets on the grid through their sponsor, so why is Stroll different.
It’s like going to school a student sponsored by his father is no different from someone on scholarship by some else.
Like Maldonaldo this guys somehow after all the the flak still leave this teams with their best result in the period.
Todfod (@todfod)
2nd December 2018, 5:32
@rockie
There are drivers who get in to the sport through sponsors (pay drivers) but how many of them get upgraded to a better team despite poor performances? Getting your dad to buy you an F1 so you can get a better drive is ridiculous. I don’t how you can defend that.. It’s like a slap in the face of F1 if you ask me.
Jere (@jerejj)
30th November 2018, 20:08
@coldfly Incorrect. It was purely Red Bull’s choice not to even really consider him due to his Mercedes-links. Ocon himself didn’t turn it down. STR would’ve become an option for him had Mercedes been willing to let him go.
Garns (@)
5th December 2018, 12:24
@coldfly
When did Ocon get a Red Bull offer? They said no I thought?
“whatever the guy achieves in F1 will be just perceived as his dad is rich”
You are not understanding my quote me here mate- I wasn’t having a go at Lance Stroll, opposite really. I was saying even if he over achieves people will say its because he is in money- I was not having a go at him.
His skills and a bit of luck got him a podium in Baku- but his Dad having money did give him an easier path to F1.
He is at a top team next year and Checo is quick-real quick. Lets see how he fairs- its f1!
ColdFly (@)
5th December 2018, 13:29
@garns,
The ‘offer’ (maybe technically not an offer as mentioned by @jerejj) was done by Dr Marko; I believe in a TV interview.
He first stated that they would consider him if he were to ditch his Mercedes ties.
When pushed if he would want him as a driver, he said ‘yeah’.
It was Ocon who decided to stay under the umbrella of Mercedes hoping on a Williams drive (or a Bottas boot).
A Red Bull contract would most likely mean an STR drive though.
Sham (@sham)
30th November 2018, 15:00
Wha…..
*Look of disbelief*
hahostolze (@hahostolze)
30th November 2018, 15:01
Slightly sad that in a summer of unprecedented change in F1 seats and such a competitive driver market, the worst driver in F1 by a comfortable margin gets to improve on his current seat.
Joao (@johnmilk)
30th November 2018, 15:23
I wouldn’t call Formula E an improvement
ColdFly (@)
30th November 2018, 15:38
He’s going to IndyCar @johnmilk
Joao (@johnmilk)
30th November 2018, 15:49
@coldfly When I saw the notification, the comment that popped into my mind was:
“a Formula E is an improvement to the 2018’s McLaren”
you would have won the internet
hahostolze (@hahostolze)
30th November 2018, 16:35
@coldfly @johnmilk I strongly disagree with you, but would invite you to expand on this in the Driver Rankings thread ;-) https://www.racefans.net/groups/f1/forum/topic/f1-driver-rankings-2018-your-verdict-on-the-best-and-worst-drivers-of-the-year/
ColdFly (@)
30th November 2018, 17:45
Thanks, @hahostolze.
Need to sleep on it for a few nights, but will add my views there.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
30th November 2018, 16:31
@johnmilk – sly, but probably true!
hahostolze (@hahostolze)
30th November 2018, 16:34
Vandoorne is probably better than half the drivers who stay in F1. His is a sad tale of lack of confidence, but definitely not lack of talent.
Joao (@johnmilk)
30th November 2018, 17:05
He had two years to show it, but he didn’t, actually performed worse in the second year. It is a bit hard argue in his favour, especially when he had a string of results where he was last, even fighting with the Williams. I would place him last in the rankings
Fudge Kobayashi (@)
30th November 2018, 17:24
The worst driver by a comfortable margin in F1 has now been dropped by Torro Rosso.
BMF66
30th November 2018, 15:01
We know.
Tarheelpup
30th November 2018, 15:14
Stevie Wonder just called to say he loves you. And he saw that coming.
Adam (@rocketpanda)
30th November 2018, 15:19
Perhaps in a Force India he’ll have moments to shine and show that he’s a pretty decent F1 driver after all.
To be honest though I hope Perez destroys him and I shall giggle madly whenever Kubica overtakes him.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
30th November 2018, 15:22
Insert surprised Pikachu.
Chaitanya
30th November 2018, 15:35
Doesn’t matter how much Stroll gets hated for buying his way into F1, it’s quite admirable that he stuck with William for 2018 season to the end before making the switch.
mog
30th November 2018, 22:33
Complicated contracts + poor PR + his Dad had spent all the spare change on Racing Point.
StefMeister (@stefmeister)
30th November 2018, 16:26
If he struggles against Perez then people will be saying it proves he isn’t that good & doesn’t belong in F1.
If he is evenly matched with or even manages to regularly beat Perez then people will be saying it’s only because his dad own’s the team & Lance is getting preferential treatment.
Duncan Snowden
30th November 2018, 17:00
Yep. For what it’s worth, I think he’s actually turning out to be a reasonably competent driver. A journeyman, as they used to say. Given how terrible the Williams was this year, he had some decent finishes and finished ahead of Brendon Hartley in the championship. And nobody doubts Brendon’s skill, or the STR13’s pace. Certainly Hartley was desperately unlucky, with five retirements to Lance’s two, but Stroll finished ahead of him on several occasions as well.
Of course there are guys who “deserve” to be in F1 more than him – you only have to look at the man he’s replacing for that – but he’s not bad. I honestly don’t believe a team like Williams would have given him the drive, all his dad’s money notwithstanding, if they’d thought he’d be an embarrassment. And, looking at it objectively, he really wasn’t.
I think I’ve said this before: he reminds me a lot of Pedro Diniz, another man who was ridiculed as a “pay driver” when he started out but, while he’ll never be counted among the greats, gained some grudging respect over the years.
Aaditya (@neutronstar)
30th November 2018, 16:40
I’m fond of both Ocon and Stroll, so although Lance to Racing Point is not exactly news, it’s really a mixed bag for me. I’m happy to see Lance in a good position for next year, but I will miss Esteban greatly…hope he at least comes back to Formula 1.
Mark Thomson (@melthom)
30th November 2018, 18:22
Who’d you rather see in Force India: Ericsson or Stroll?
Jere (@jerejj)
30th November 2018, 20:09
@melthom Ericsson.
Mark Thomson (@melthom)
30th November 2018, 22:44
Agree
MtlRacer (@mtlracer)
30th November 2018, 18:43
Lance will NOT race for Force India — he will race for
Racing Point F1
The official FIA 2019 entry list is out and they have dropped Force India from the team name.
2019 FIA Formula One World Championship Entry
Mark Thomson (@melthom)
30th November 2018, 22:48
What a lame name – they should have been TEREX Motorsport
Jeffrey (@jeffreyj)
30th November 2018, 18:53
BOOH!
Dobb
1st December 2018, 1:58
Oh well. I expect this to be his last F1 season..
Ed
1st December 2018, 3:37
Williams managed to lose him to a team with a much smaller budget.
Bones Gambino
1st December 2018, 15:04
Not unexpected but still disappointing.
KV
2nd December 2018, 13:42
Stroll got that seat purely because of his skill.
“Youth, talent and experience” – I guess, talent and experience are describing Kubica, while “youth” is the only thing they can think of when describing Stroll.
JMDan (@danmar)
2nd December 2018, 21:47
Ocon – It’s hard to pass judgement on these young drivers as they are always crashing into each other and most of the rest of the grid.