Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has released a list of drivers who could be in line to fill Lewis Hamilton’s vacant seat.
The seven-time world champion will join Ferrari at the end of this F1 season in a quest for an unprecedented eighth world title.
Mercedes is preparing for the future without its main driver and Wolff has named four drivers who could potentially compete. coat next to George Russell.
The announcement comes amid Hamilton’s imminent move to Ferrari under Fred Vasseur.
The move sparked one of the most speculative and dynamic chain reactions in driver movements in the history of the sport, with Mercedes filled with speculation about their future moves.
Hamilton’s departure marks the end of an era for Mercedes. is struggling since the beginning of 2022 to repeat its former dominance.
With Hamilton without a win for two years and the team struggling to even understand the behavior of their W15 car, a strong replacement must be found for the 2025 season.
Surprisingly, promising young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli is also on Wolff’s list of candidates, who is already turning heads in Formula 2 at just 17 years old.
However, Wolff expressed caution in trying to carefully manage expectations and pressure on Antonelli.
I think it also depends on what Max [Verstappen] does,” he admitted to Fox Sports Australia.
Then we have a young lad [Andrea Kimi Antonelli] who is very promising and I don’t want to put too much pressure on him, but he looks like he could be one of the greats.
But we won ‘t. ‘don’t want to overwhelm him either when he jumps into an F1 car so fast at 17. So there are a few options we are playing with him.
Obviously Fernando [Alonso], who is very exciting, and Carlos [ Sainz] is very good.”So there are a few.
I’m making a play as a bride – hard to find!”Both Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz have shown their mettle on the track, with Sainz in particular attracting attention after a commendable performance at the Australian Grand Prix. 16 days after surgery.
Capitalizing on Max Verstappen’s DNF when his Red Bull caught fire, the Spaniard built a strong lead to take his first win of the 2024 season and secure his place as the only Red Bull driver to win a Grand Prix since the Brazilian GP. Award in 2022.
Clearly, Wolff has a lot to think about. But if he doesn’t move quickly enough, with 12 drivers out of contract at the end of this season, rivals in his sights are likely to snap..