How do you replace a seven-time world champion and the most successful driver in F1 history? That’s the unique dilemma Mercedes are facing right now.
They have known since the winter that Lewis Hamilton was going to join Ferrari for 2025. Team principal Toto Wolff wasn’t surprised by the decision itself, merely by the timing.
But his focus has now turned to finding a successor. According to Ted Kravitz, he may wait until August before he makes a final decision.
That could be a risk in itself, because some of the best drivers on the market may sign elsewhere. With more than half the grid out of contract, many will be eager to resolve their futures.
It’s clear by now that Mercedes’ dream target is Max Verstappen. Team bosses have signed off on a contract that would see the world champion earn even more than Hamilton.
But the expectation is that, if Verstappen does leave Red Bull, it won’t be until at least the end of 2025, in anticipation of the 2026 regulation changes. The timings may not align.
Mercedes have also held talks with Carlos Sainz, the driver who’s losing his seat to clear a space for Hamilton. But there’s a disagreement over the length of that deal, perhaps in the knowledge that Verstappen may be available after next year.
Nico Rosberg lifts lid on Mercedes talks
Speaking on Sky Sports F1 ahead of first practice at the Chinese Grand Prix, Nico Rosberg shared his unique perspective on Mercedes’ driver search. Rosberg won his one and only world championship with the Silver Arrows in 2016.
The 38-year-old ‘can confirm’, having seen it with his own eyes, that Mercedes held extensive talks with Flavio Briatore, the manager of Fernando Alonso. In the end, though, Alonso signed a new multi-year deal with Aston Martin.
Rosberg feels that was the best decision the two-time title-winner could have made in the end. Although he suspects that Wolff may not have made the offer Alonso desired.
“I can confirm that [Mercedes had talks with Alonso], because next to my house in Monaco is Flavio Briatore’s cafe and him and Toto spent a lot of time discussing. Eventually I think Aston Martin was the best thing for him to do, maybe even the only thing. That’s why he rapidly decided to agree the contract there from all sides.”
Will Mercedes hire Andrea Kimi Antonelli?
With Verstappen potentially unavailable, Alonso staying at Aston Martin and Sainz refusing to accept Mercedes’ terms, they may have to look elsewhere. And that’s where Andrea Kimi Antonelli could come in.
17-year-old academy driver Antonelli is currently three rounds into his first season in Formula 2, so some may feel a promotion to a front-running seat would be too hasty. But he’s lit up the junior categories, winning the Formula Regional championships in Europe and the Middle East last year.
Mercedes believe that he could the next Verstappen or Charles Leclerc. That’s why they’ve set up an extensive testing programme for this year, one that started at the Red Bull Ring in Austria this week.
Antonelli was only able to carry out limited running on his first day in Mercedes’ 2021 car because of the weather. But things were much smoother on the second.
The team won’t share his lap times, but they could go a long way to proving his readiness, together with his F2 form. In what would be a huge gamble for Wolff, it’s increasingly ‘likely’ that they put their faith in the Italian teenager.
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