Silly Season: Stroll to Force India, Kubica to Williams for Monza?

Word is that a flurry of negotiations taking place behind-the-scenes which could end with teenager Stroll departing Williams for Esteban Ocon's seat at Force India as early as this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

Stroll junior told RaceFans, "I'm on standby at the moment. Right now I'm going into Monza the same mentality as always. I assume to be driving for Williams."

Suggesting that there is something in the pipeline and if all else fails he will toil around in the hapless Williams for yet another race.

In the wake of Force India being saved by the Racing Point consortium, and before the Belgian Grand Prix, newly promoted team principal Otmar Szafnauer told reporters, "For the short-term, it’s the same two."

"What happens thereafter, it’s not impossible to change that’s for sure, but a lot of agreements would have to happen. So I don’t know, it’s hard for me to predict that in the future."

Wisely Szafnauer left the door open by using the words "short-term" as this could mean one race or several... but we are sure to know soon enough according to multiple sources.

Ocon gave the impression at Spa that he felt he would be without a drive at the team owned by Stroll's who would want his son in their cars at some point, while Sergio Perez has sponsors and experience that his younger teammate does not have.

Meanwhile, Kubica is up for it should Williams give him the call-up for Monza, "I feel ready because otherwise, I would not sign a contract with Williams for this year. It's on my desk that: "You have to keep being ready and in case something happens, you have to step up."

"Of course, it is not easy when you have to drive against the top drivers in the middle of the season. Although I have some opportunities to drive the car, you still lack experience, but you have to do it.

"Sometimes you have to be in the right place in the right moment with a bit of luck and have people who are believing in you," added Kubica.

The only handbrake to the driver changes happening at Monza is the lack of time to clear all the complex contractual obstacles, but by Singapore it is

Should matters transpire as detailed above, then Esteban Ocon is likely to be pushed out of Force India with little options to keep his impressive F1 career uninterrupted.

However, word is Mercedes have sounded out McLaren to have Ocon replace Vandoorne should the Frenchman make way for Stroll in coming races, which would amount to the biggest mid-season F1 driver line-up change in memory.

This story could blossom at any time, so watch this space!