Lewis Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari has not yet been officially announced, but the chance that we will see the seven-time world champion in a red racing suit is quite high. If the rumors come true, there will be a vacancy at Mercedes for 2025. Let’s take a look at the potential candidates who could replace Lewis in the Brackley team.
Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz seems a logical candidate, because it is Hamilton who takes his place at the Scuderia. The Spanish driver competes alongside teammate Charles Leclerc and was the only non-Red Bull Racing driver to win a race last season. However, he does not yet have a contract until 2025, so Carlos could be an attractive option for Mercedes.
Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso is known for his unexpected and high-profile transfers from one team to another, so it cannot be ruled out that the Spaniard will try to reach an agreement with Mercedes.
Fernando has a good relationship with George Russell and he is the driver who knows how to get the most out of the car in every situation. If Hamilton leaves, the contract with Alonso will become an equal replacement for Mercedes.
Esteban Ocon
Esteban Ocon’s contract with Alpine expires at the end of 2024 and there are already rumors in the press that the driver is considering switching teams. The French driver in particular is mentioned as one of the candidates for a seat at Sauber/Audi.
At the same time, Mercedes continues to focus on Ocon’s career, and the team knows him well from the time when Esteban was a reserve driver. Given all this, Esteban’s return to Brackley cannot be ruled out.
Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo makes no secret of the fact that he wants to return to Red Bull Racing in 2025, but if the championship team decides to extend the contract with Sergio Perez, Ricciardo’s experience could be useful for Mercedes. For the Australian himself, this will be an opportunity to return to the top positions and compete for the role of team leader.
Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas’ contract with Stake/Sauber expires at the end of 2024 and according to press information the team does not intend to renew it. A return to Mercedes would be an excellent option for the Finn to continue his career, and the team would get a driver they know well.
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
