Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025 stirs the F1 scene, leaving Mercedes to scout for George Russell’s new teammate. Speculation is rife about who will claim this highly sought-after position.
The announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari for 2025 has significantly shaken the Formula 1 world, opening up a spot at Mercedes F1 for next year alongside George Russell.
Naturally, this leads to speculation about who will fill the seven-time world champion’s seat at the Brackley-based team. The decision could hinge on the performance of the W15, unless a deal is struck very soon. But who are the contenders for this coveted seat?
Esteban Ocon is the first name that springs to mind. This isn’t out of national pride but due to the French driver’s longstanding relationship with the Mercedes F1 team.
Recently, Mercedes confirmed that in addition to Toto Wolff, the manufacturer and its head of young driver development, Gwen Lagrue, continue to manage the career of the French driver, making him an ideal candidate.
The second name in the running is Alex Albon. The Thai driver is keen to return to a top team, despite currently shining at Williams F1 since the start of the 2022 season.
Negotiations could be facilitated by the technical relationship and engine supply partnership between Mercedes and Williams.
A world champion or a rookie?
Mick Schumacher is another potential candidate for the seat. The German is Mercedes F1’s reserve driver and will compete in the WEC with Alpine in 2024, having been somewhat overlooked by Formula 1.
However, if Mercedes has favorable data on him, which might explain why he remains a development driver, the team might consider him a strong number 2 to Russell for 2025.
A fourth name would be a masterstroke, but currently, the likelihood is very low: Fernando Alonso. The team and the two-time world champion have circled each other in the past but have never managed to strike a deal to work together.
This time, Alonso’s name might tempt Mercedes, but the Spaniard is heavily involved in a progressing project at Aston Martin. And if the W15 fails to perform, Mercedes might not outpace Aston Martin in 2024.
Lastly, a bold gamble would be promoting Andrea Kimi Antonelli, should his first F2 season go well. The Italian is among the most promising drivers in junior formulas.
Yet, making a significant leap from FRECA to F2 this year, he faces stiff competition from the highly promising Ollie Bearman at Prema. Betting on him at this stage, however promising, is difficult.
Carlos Sainz’s name could come up, but for the Spanish driver, the future seems more likely to be with Aston Martin, or more probably with Audi, where he appears to be heading naturally. Nonetheless, Mercedes might explore this option by reaching out to his circle, making him a potential candidate for the role.
Mercedes Seat Replacement Candidates Who Will Replace lewis. Mercedes Seat Replacement Candidates Who Will Replace lewis
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