Another Brit on the grid!

[Monty]

Oh did I say 'Brit'?  I obviously meant rookie because I'm not partisan obviously!
George Russel at Williams would seem to be a good fit. I also hope that it means they will be getting a little more help from Mercedes (they definitely need it!!).

[guest3164]

I'm really glad to have a new driver although just a little of that joy is tinged with the knowledge he'll end up leaving for Mercedes at some point if he is as good as we hope/expect!

[Andy B]

Fingers crossed for a car that will show off his talent.

[Robem64]

What I don't quite understand is why Ocon seems to be tainted for joining other teams because he's in the Mercedes programme - surely Russell is in the same boat?

[guest3164]

What I don't quite understand is why Ocon seems to be tainted for joining other teams because he's in the Mercedes programme - surely Russell is in the same boat?

Russell has joined a Mercedes customer team though in Williams, rather like Ocon when he raced for Force India.  The problem is other teams outside of the Mercedes 'family' aren't prepared to take Ocon whilst he is still affiliated with Mercedes and there is the risk they could call him back to Silver Arrows.  With Williams/Force India, it is more expected that the likes of Russell and Ocon will end up moving on in the future. 

[Irisado]

It will be interesting to see how he goes.  His credentials are impressive, but then so were Vandoorne's and he has found it very difficult in a less than competitive car.  Still, Russell won't be up against anyone of Alonso's calibre in the same team.

[Alianora La Canta]

What I don't quite understand is why Ocon seems to be tainted for joining other teams because he's in the Mercedes programme - surely Russell is in the same boat?

Ocon is ahead of Russell in the Mercedes pecking order, so if Hamilton or Bottas bust an ankle on the way to their car in qualifying, it would be Esteban and not George who got called up as the substitute. As such, Russell isn't in such danger of being yanked from his team mid-season. (Force India's OK with this because they know where their replacement is coming from - Williams isn't 100% confident in Kubica (even though I think he'd be fine), which makes Williams that much more cautious.

It didn't help that Ocon was looking for teams in the middle of Toto Wolff attempting shenenigans that, had they happened, would have affected up to five teams. That sort of thing understandably makes other teams cautious, even temporarily, of accepting any offers that might seem like approval of Toto's actions. It's why Mercedes doesn't have as much psuedopolitical capital as it would like, and why it's now doing things like hosting all-team no-Liberty/FIA meetings to discuss the future of F1 to try to get that capital back. George, on the other hand, signed his deal after said olive branches started being offered...