Esteban Ocon will officially join Renault at next month’s post-season Abu Dhabi test after Mercedes agreed to an early release of its reserve driver from his 2019 contractual obligations.

Earlier this year, Ocon signed a two-year deal with Renault, the 23-year-old replacing Nico Hulkenberg and racing alongside Daniel Ricciardo at the French outfit from 2020.

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After a year on the sidelines, during which he conducted simulator and development work for Mercedes, Ocon – who started his career with Manor in 2016 before racing for Force India for two seasons – is impatient to return to F1 on a full-time basis.

Subsequent to his early release by Mercedes, Ocon will get back to the grind on December 3 at Yas Marina, the Frenchman driving on both days of the Abu Dhabi test.

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