Wolff reveals Vasseur helped fund Ocon's early F1 seat

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has described how he and Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur backed Esteban Ocon financially during his career. Wolff said Vasseur personally paid to secure Ocon's first F1 seat with Manor from Spa onwards in 2016, when a $1 million shortfall remained after Mercedes contributed.

The revelation comes as Ocon has been dropped by Haas midway through the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend and will not return for the rest of the 2026 season. Ryo Hirakawa and Rafa Camara are replacing him. Haas have not given a reason beyond saying illness was not the cause.

Wolff said Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu needed to protect the team from certain rhetoric, adding that the team decides when enough is enough. Vasseur declined to comment on Haas's internal decisions, saying it would be difficult to do so.