Esteban Ocon has revealed that he has been speaking with Toto Wolff about his future on the grid as he nears the end of his Alpine deal.

The Frenchman, who is still managed by Mercedes, is yet to sign an extension with Alpine to take him beyond the end of this year.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s race at Imola, Ocon said: “In my opinion, I am still a Mercedes junior.

“The management side has not changed since 2015. We are discussing a lot. We will decide what is best for my future.

“There is certainly a lot going on behind the scenes, not only looking for a long-term deal, but also a short-term one.

“In Formula One, things can change quickly, but that’s the way it is, the most important thing is to close a deal as quickly as possible.

“As always, that is my clear goal. At the moment my mind is completely on this team [Alpine], I am totally committed. I have been part of the project for years, that is very clear.

“But in Formula One, you do not want to be left without a contract, so I have not been able to enjoy that aspect. The sooner it is fixed, the better.”