Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff admits finding an immediate solution for Esteban Ocon is imperative but remains confident of his future in Formula 1.
Following the takeover at Force India by Lawrence Stroll during the summer break, rumours have been swirling as to how soon he will pull his son Lance from Williams and place him into his new long-term seat.
With comments from Sergio Perez indicating his future had been sorted at the Silverstone-based team, that left Ocon as the man to be ousted although earlier suggestions that would happen this weekend at Monza are wide of the mark.
Instead, with two weeks until the next race in Singapore, that is believed to be the likely race where a driver merry-go-round will take place and Wolff is sure the Frenchman will take to the streets of Marina Bay.
"We will continue to help him in finding a short-term solution for him to drive," he said last week in Belgium.
"There’s a lot of interest (in him) out there and it’s just a matter of scanning the market in the next few days to choose the right option for him and the team. But I’m very optimistic for his future."
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It was thought the 21-year-old would be heading to Renault for 2019, with the Mercedes chief even suggesting that was "clear" before Daniel Ricciardo changed the landscape with his shock decision to leave Red Bull.
A move to McLaren in place of Stoffel Vandoorne was though likely for Ocon, however, as one of the tallest drivers on the grid, it is claimed he struggled to fit inside the MCL33 when in Woking for a recent seat-fitting.
Lance Stroll likely had few issues snuggling into his Force India when he too had a seat-fitting earlier this week so with that prospect still looming Sky Sports triggered rumours that perhaps it will Perez returning to the team he raced with in 2013 alongside Sainz next season.
Expect plenty more to come out over the next few days at Monza...
