Estaban Ocon’s chances of lꦜanding a Formula 1 drive for 2019 remain “pretty grim”, according to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

Ocon looks set to miss out on a drive n🃏ext 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 fell through following Daniel Ricciardo’s bombshell switch.

Williams could𝓀 provide Ocon a lifeline, with deputy team principal Claire Williams insisting talent will be a “predominant” factor in deciding who will partner Formula 2 championship leader G🧔eorge Russell in 2019.

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

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

“That has not chan♛ged in the last 2 months, but 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 where🤡 it endꦫs up.”

Ocon 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 consideration♛s.

“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.

“B💟ut on the other side he can do a really good support job in the Mercedes also.”

And Wolff insisted 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 much 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 maybe more difficult,” he explained.

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