The F1 drivers in contention to replace Hamilton at Mercedes

Following the bombshell information that Lewis Hamilton will go away Mercedes for Ferrari subsequent yr, an illustrious seat has opened up in the motive force market.

Although Mercedes has been unable to persistently problem for race victories during the last two seasons, a race drive throughout the organisation stays one of the vital precious locations to land on the grid.

Hamilton’s departure is a serious blow for Mercedes who has misplaced essentially the most profitable driver of all time to a rival, leaving a gap that might be extraordinarily difficult to fill.

However, Mercedes will now successfully take management of the switch market as each onut-of-contract driver will maintain out to see if they’re chosen to replace the seven-time World Champion.

But who’re the suitors that might soar into the Mercedes staff alongside George Russell subsequent yr? RacingNews365 lists the candidates.

Carlos Sainz

By default, Sainz turns into an computerized candidate for the drive. Having been ousted at Ferrari in favour of Hamilton, the Spaniard is now a key participant in the market.

Throughout his profession, Sainz has attracted the eye of main producers akin to Renault, McLaren and Ferrari – may Mercedes be subsequent on his checklist of groups?

Interest in Sainz will little doubt be excessive and if Mercedes just isn’t his vacation spot, the 29-year-old might be chased by Stake to link up on a multi-year deal forward of Audi’s arrival to the grid in 2026.

However ought to Mercedes need to safe Sainz’s signature, it might be troublesome for the two-time race winner to flip down a proposal.

Alex Albon

Having revitalised his F1 profession with a transfer to Williams in 2022, Albon was reluctant to commit his future to the Grove-based squad when questioned final yr about his place in the motive force market.

The Thai-British driver is aware of that his subsequent F1 contract will possible be crucial but because the time period will take him by means of what might be argued because the prime of his profession.

Albon has starred for Williams throughout the final two seasons and has rebuilt a powerful popularity for himself following a troublesome interval racing at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen.

With additional expertise underneath his belt and a powerful relationship present between Russell and Albon, the soon-to-be 28-year-old may test all of the packing containers for Mercedes.

Esteban Ocon

Ocon’s pre-existing relationship with Mercedes may serve the Frenchman nicely if he seems to transfer out of the Alpine squad and re-form a partnership with the Brackley-based squad.

Mercedes nonetheless manages Ocon’s profession regardless of his lengthy hyperlinks to Alpine, however like Sainz and Albon, Ocon’s present contract can be expiring at the top of the yr.

Alpine’s place in the pecking order took a success final yr because it slipped to sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship and was overtaken by rivals McLaren and Aston Martin.

It could be full circle for Ocon to be a part of the staff that solid his path to the game and could be a constructive transfer for Mercedes’ wider funding with two protégés forming its line-up.

Fernando Alonso

Alonso has been having fun with life at Aston Martin since linking up with the Silverstone-based squad final yr, scoring eight podiums in the course of the marketing campaign.

There’s little doubt that Alonso is essentially the most adorned of potential Hamilton replacements on this checklist with two World Championships to his identify.

Age hasn’t but slowed down the Spaniard who proved final yr that regardless of being the eldest driver on the grid, he’s performing as among the finest.

Alonso has been chomping at the bit for aggressive equipment for a number of years and whereas he loved some success with Aston Martin, he may even see that there are extra assurances in a multi-time World Championship-winning squad in Mercedes.

However, Alonso is little doubt nearing a retirement determination in the close to future – so may he present Mercedes with the power it wants whereas additionally appearing as a placeholder for an additional protégé?

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Antonelli is an actual wildcard on this checklist however Mercedes has already proven its religion in him by slotting him in Formula 2 this yr after his title success in the Formula Regional European Championship final season.

An quick robust impression in F2 would increase his inventory significantly at a time when he’s already being thought-about an F1 star of the longer term.

Antonelli has been a part of Mercedes’ F1 academy since 2019 and though the Italian would solely be 18 years of age in 2025, he might be an possibility if Mercedes feels that the younger expertise is able to making the soar.

Such a speedy rise to the forefront of F1 is extra unlikely than different choices but when Antontelli is a part of Mercedes’ long-term plans, then maybe locking him down early is its greatest plan of action.

Anyone else?

It would appear impolite not to point out Mick Schumacher provided that the ex-Haas driver is formally listed as Mercedes’ F1 reserve.

However, questions should be requested concerning the power of pairing Russell and Schumacher collectively, particularly with Schumacher off the grid for 2 seasons earlier than the seat opens up – however the German, who’s absolutely targeted on returning to the F1 grid as quickly as doable, might be hounding Toto Wolff over his worth.

Daniel Ricciardo can be an fascinating prospect that Mercedes may take into account and the AlphaTauri driver will possible flirt with the thought.

Ricciardo’s return to the grid final yr additionally noticed him declare his need for a return to Red Bull in the longer term amid Sergio Perez’s troublesome run of kind – however it might be unwise to not decide up the cellphone to Mercedes and voice his curiosity in the case that Perez performances fulfill Red Bull this yr.

Valtteri Bottas may nicely discover himself needing a seat if Sainz heads to Stake F1 in anticipation of Audi’s entry to the game and with the Finn’s historical past with Mercedes, this might be a stable stop-gap possibility. A draw back, nevertheless, could be his relationship with Russell, which fractured because the pair battled for the seat at the moment occupied by the Briton.

And what about Nico Hulkenberg? Mercedes has been and not using a German nationwide since Nico Rosberg’s retirement and the F1 veteran impressed along with his performances at Haas final yr when he returned in a full-time function following a two-year absence.

Whatever route Mercedes decides to take, there might be no scarcity of candidates to replace Hamilton.

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