Fred Vasseur personally contributed $1m to Esteban Ocon’s first F1 drive

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed Fred Vasseur personally contributed one million dollars to fund Esteban Ocon’s half-season at the Manor Formula 1 team in 2016.

Ocon joined Mercedes’ young-driver programme ahead of the 2015 GP3 season, claiming the title in remarkable fashion with 14 podiums in 18 races – including a string of nine consecutive second-place finishes – with Vasseur’s ART Grand Prix squad.