Sir Lewis Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013. Moreover, things changed drastically in the F1 Motorsport since the great Briton left McLaren for the Silver Arrows. He had won his maiden title for McLaren in his sophomore season. Later, the British driver had to wait a while for his next title. From 2010 to 2013, he had no chance of winning the title because Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel were at the peak of the sport. Then, it dawned in the new era of turbo-hybrid when Mercedes proved that they had the superior car. As a result, Lewis Hamilton and the Silver Arrows were unstoppable from 2014 to 2021. All these years, the German team won the constructor titles.
But Lewis Hamilton missed his chance twice, once in 2016 and again in 2021, to win the Driver’s World Championship. Nevertheless, the great Briton won six titles with Mercedes, adding to his maiden title with McLaren. However, since 2022, the seven-time champion has been winless. Moreover, in the last two seasons, Mercedes had won only one race. Hence, it was high time for Hamilton to move to another team with a better chance of winning the title. He did sign with Ferrari this year and will don the iconic red uniform from 2025. And now, Mercedes is struggling to find Hamilton’s replacement.
Who’ll Replace Lewis Hamilton In Mercedes In 2025?
There are a few options open for Toto Wolff to choose from. The driver Lewis Hamilton will replace in Ferrari is Carlos Sainz Jr. Last year, the Spaniard was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a Grand Prix. He can be a pretty good choice for Toto Wolff. But Mercedes might look for another champion to replace the seven-time champion. And the only racers who have won the title multiple times from the current grid – Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen (obviously excluding Hamilton). In fact, there are no more former champions still racing in the current grid. Perhaps Sebastian Vettel might surprise everybody coming out of retirement, joining Mercedes.
It sounds familiar with the comeback story of the German legend Michael Schumacher. Vettel can follow in the footsteps of his childhood idol. Then, Pierre Gasly is also a viable option. He is out of contract and last drove for Alpine. With one more year to go with Alpine, Gasly said he wants to focus on his final year with Alpine at present. He hinted at some conversations going on about their future. Anyway, Gasly feels he is in his prime and feels more like a complete driver now. Since turning 28, he feels mentally and physically very well.
Toto Wolff Said They’re In No Rush To Find Hamilton’s Replacement Right Away
Recently, the Mercedes boss told CNBC that they will take their time with making the right decision. But everybody knows for Gasly and other available options, the rivals will ensue a brewing competition. However, Toto Wolff said they are in no hurry to find George Russell a teammate for 2025. They want to focus on the current year.
But the Mercedes chief hinted that they might choose somebody from the group of young racers who can be the future for a long time. Then, again, the Silver Arrows boss said a lot will still depend on performance and knowledge. Hence, at present, he is unsure about where the discussion will end. However, regarding the evaluation of those options, Toto Wolff believes the next few months will be pretty interesting.
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