Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has provided an update on who will replace Lewis Hamilton, as he picks out four drivers in contention for their second seat including 17-year-old wonderkid.
Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari in 2025 effectively sent the world of Formula 1 into a frenzy, with an already chaotic driver market blown open with a free slot at Mercedes.
Hamilton's move puts Carlos Sainz effectively unemployed for the 2025 season despite being the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race since the start of the 2023 season.
Given Hamilton's early season form for Mercedes, it could be argued Ferrari boss Fred Vesseur might have made a mistake partnering Charles Leclerc with 39-year-old Hamilton as opposed to keeping Sainz.
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As previously mentioned, Hamilton's move has opened up a very coveted seat at Mercedes and Wolff has revealed a few of the drivers in contention for the move.
While the drama at Red Bull seems to have died down, it demonstrated that Max Verstappen isn't as unattainable as it first appeared and Hamilton's move to Ferrari proved anything is possible.
When asked if Verstappen is his number one pick for the vacant Mercedes cockpit, Wolff confirmed the Dutchmen is at the top of his shopping list.
“Yes, I mean, you see what his performance levels are. But I wouldn’t want to discount the other ones too. We have a slot free, the only one in the top teams unless Max decides he goes, then the slot is not going to be free with us anymore," Wolff confirmed.
While Mercedes will want to make sure they have the strongest driver lineup possible, Wolff also confirmed they wouldn't rush into a decision.
“There are a few options that are really interesting for us, from the very young super talent to some of the elder ones who are very experienced. That’s not going to happen in the next few weeks or months or so… I want to continue to monitor the market," Wolff continued.
One of the more interesting names in the conversation is 17-year-old sensation Kimi Antonelli who is currently in his debut season in F2.
Antonelli is part of the Mercedes academy, the same path Russell took to the team. The Italian teenager has 24 points so far this season and is ahead of his teammate Oliver Bearman who impressed racing for Ferrari in Jeddah.
Speaking on Antonelli, Wolff said: "Then we have a young kid that is very promising and I don’t want to put more extra pressure on him, but it looks like he can be one of the great ones.
“But we also don’t want to drown him by jumping so quickly in an F1 car at 17. So there are a few options that we play with him. Obviously, there’s Fernando Alonso who is very exciting, and Carlos Sainz is very good. So there are a few ones. I’m gonna make the play like a bride – difficult to get!"
Alonso and Sainz seem like the more obvious options for Mercedes, with Aston Martin failing to make the progress Lawrence Stroll initially promised and Sainz obviously out of a seat.
Whoever Wolff signs, they're going to have a mega-job getting Mercedes back on top, with Ferrari showing they are also a force to be reckoned with alongside Red Bull.
Topics: Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1, Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso
Tom Jenkins