Wolff says Vasseur funded Ocon's 2016 Manor seat

Toto Wolff has revealed that Fred Vasseur personally put up one million dollars to secure Esteban Ocon a Formula 1 seat with Manor from the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix. Wolff made the comment at the Brazil Grand Prix press conference, explaining that Mercedes had been able to contribute one million dollars toward the two million required, with Vasseur covering the shortfall.

Ocon had joined Mercedes' young driver programme before the 2015 GP3 season, racing for Vasseur's ART Grand Prix team. Wolff said that when no opportunity existed in Formula 1, the two teams worked together in the DTM before the Manor seat became available.

Vasseur, speaking at the same event, declined to comment on Haas' decision to part ways with Ocon, saying he had enough to do with his own team and describing it as a shame for Ocon, whom he called a pure competitor.