Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes to join F1 rivals Ferrari at the end of 2024, leaving Toto Wolff with the huge task of replacing the seven-time world champion.
Toto Wolff has named four drivers he is considering for a 2025 Mercedes seat after Lewis Hamilton leaves.
The seven-time Formula 1 champion has agreed to join Ferrari at the end of the year. And, with 21 races still to be completed between now and then, Wolff has no intention of rushing his decision over who will replace the 39-year-old.
But he has clearly given some thought to the situation. The Austrian has already made it clear that, should Max Verstappen follow through on his threat to quit Red Bull if mentor Helmut Marko leaves, the Dutchman will be his top target.
Wolff has also backed George Russell to lead the team into the future – and has now named three other targets as well as Verstappen. He said: “[Russell] is having that seat, he’s been part of our junior programme for a long time. The reason why is because he’s great, so it’s about the second seat.
“I believe the outcome also hinges on Max’s actions.
In addition, we have a talented young racer, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who shows great potential. I, however, am cautious about adding too much pressure on him. It seems like he has the potential to become a top racer.
However, we must also consider not pushing him too fast into Formula 1 at the age of 17 to avoid overwhelming him.” There are several possibilities for us to consider when choosing a player.
Fernando Alonso is a compelling option, and Carlos Sainz is also highly skilled. We have a few choices to make, but it will be a tough decision.
Alonso has expressed his desire to have discussions with his current Aston Martin team in order to negotiate a new contract.
However, he has also suggested that he would consider exploring other options if a deal cannot be reached and may be interested in an offer from Mercedes.
Sainz will most likely require a new seat next year, as Hamilton joining Ferrari will likely displace him.
His win in Australia over the weekend has only improved his prospects of securing another competitive seat. Regardless of who ends up in the position, Wolff acknowledges that they will require a faster car compared to what Mercedes has created in the past three years.
According to him, there is a need for introspection on how they can improve the performance of the car.
It is much simpler when the second car is driven by any driver, as it greatly benefits George who has the potential to become a world champion and more. The team’s focus should be on finding a solution rather than searching for a quick fix with a talented driver.