Estaban Ocon’s chances of landing a Formulaꩵ 1 drive for 2019 remain “prꩲetty grim”, according to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

Ocon looks set to miss out on a drive next season with Lance Stroll expected to join his father at Force India alongside Sergio Perez, leaving a lack of options available for the Mercedes junior after a deal with Renault fꦯell through following Daniel Ricciardo’s bombshell switch.

Williams could provide Ocon a lifeline, with deputy team principal Claire Williams insisting talent will be a “🌃predominant” factor in deciding who will partner Formula 2 champions𒀰hip leader George Russell in 2019.

But ღthe Frenchman faces stiff competition from Sergey Sirotkin and Robert Kubica, who are both vying for the sole-remaining seat at the British squad, though Williams stres💞sed the team is not "in any mad rush" to make a final call.

“For next year the chances are🅘 pretty grim,” Wolff told Sky Sports F1 at the Mexican Grand Prix.

“That has𝓰 not changed in the last 2 months, bu🉐t we are already thinking about 2020.

“He is going to be involved in all our development program in the Mercedes cars and then we see wherܫe it ends up.”

Oc✃on previously said it would be unfair to consider a 💎potential move to Williams for 2019 as a downgrade given its difficult campaign so far this year

Asked if it would be better for♉ Ocon to have a year out rather than be in a car that is not competitive, Wolff replied: “That is one of the considerations.

“You need to balance it. On one side you want him to stay sharp and race🦩 and help develop a car that is not performing ♏so well.

“But on the other side 𒆙he can do a really good support job in the Mer💦cedes also.”

And Wolff insiꦗsted he is not worried by suggestions a Russell-Ocon line-up at Williams could end up harming one driver’s future prospects with Mercedes.

“George’s plan is very mu🔯ch to stay long term with Williams and help the team come back, so there is a multiyear contract and he knows very well that the first year will be may𒀰be more difficult,” he explained.

“For Esteban it is a completely different ballgame. I tend to agree with that it༒ is maybe better to sit one year out and come back in a strong car.”