Mercedes youngster Esteban Ocon is “in the mix” for the second Williams Formula 1 seat in 2019, with deputy chief Claire Williams saying the team “would be cr🌄azy” not to consider the Frenchman for next s💦eason.

Williams confirmed on Friday that Formula 2 championship leader and Mercedes-backed junior George Russell wou💯ld be joini💫ng its F1 line-up in 2019, leaving one seat free at the team.

With Lance St෴roll seemingly bound for Force India following his father’s takeover of the team, the candidates for the remaining seat include curre🐈nt driver Sergey Sirotkin, F2 veteran Artem Markelov and Williams reserve driver Robert Kubica.

While Sirotkin is the favourite to continue in 2019, Williams said the 🦩team was sti𓆏ll considering its options, with Ocon being a contender.

“We are still doing a lot of evaluation work,” Williams told Sky Sports.

“It’s a short short-list. We're very happy with the drivers we are evaꦡluating and it will not take us a long time to make that final decis𝓰ion.

“Of course Est💮eban is in the mix. We would be crazy not toಌ be looking at him.”

Ocon was left of the fringes of the F1 driver market following a number of surprise silly season moves over the summer that saw him miss out on seats at both Renault and McLaren 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历♒史:despite having contrac⛎ts drawn up with both teams.

Mercedes is braced to hand the current For💎ce India driver a test and reserve role 🌞for 2019 with a view to getting him back on the grid for 2020, making Williams his final realistic chance of landing a full-time race seat.

Besides Williams, the only remaining seats for 2019 are at Force India - who is eꦏxpected to confirm Stroll and Sergio Perez over the Mexican Grand Prix weekend - and Toro Rosso, which has one drive remaining alongside Daniil Kvyat.