Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed that he has missed out on signing two possible replacements for Lewis Hamilton after the seven-time world champion's move to Ferrari from 2025.
Shockwaves were sent through the F1 world on Thursday when it was reported that Hamilton was set to leave Mercedes after 12 years with the team to join Ferrari.
He had signed a new two-year contract with Mercedes in August of last year.
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The news was later confirmed by both teams on Thursday evening, with the seven-time world champion moving to the Scuderia on a 'multi-year contract' from the 2025 season.
His team-mate will be Charles Leclerc, with Carlos Sainz leaving Ferrari at the end of his contract following the 2024 season.
In a press release following the announcement, Hamilton stated that 'the time is right now for me to take this step' and added that he is 'excited to be taking on a new challenge'.
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The Brit will continue racing for Mercedes for the 2024 season, having exercised a clause that allows him to leave the team at the end of the first year of his contract.
That does give Wolff and the upper Mercedes hierarchy time to find a replacement, although you imagine they will want to lock a driver in sooner rather than later.
Wolff will be able to pick from most of the current F1 field and even from outside the sport, with four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel a potential, if seemingly unlikely, option to make a comeback after his retirement in 2022.
But another driver that could have been seen as a potential Hamilton replacement is McLaren's Lando Norris, who recorded seven podiums last season.
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And Hamilton's new team-mate Leclerc, who has spent six seasons with Ferrari, could also have been a contender.
But speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Wolff admitted that, while both drivers have been on Mercedes' radar, their contract situations mean they can't sign either of them.
He explained: "It's not something I want to be rushed into.
"I guess that a few contracts have been signed a few weeks ago that we'd have looked at. It would have been interesting, but the timing here bit us a bit."
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Leclerc agreed a new five-year contract with Ferrari last month to keep him with the Scuderia until the end of the 2028 season, although the last two years are reportedly optional to the Monegasque driver.
In the same week, McLaren agreed terms on a new deal with Norris that will keep him at the team until 'at least the end of 2026', although no specific expiry date was given.
Featured Image Credit: Getty / X/TwitterTopics: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Ferrari, Formula 1, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris