Lewis Hamilton’s astonishing switch to Ferrari has triggered an unsettling movement in the driver market. With Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc locked in at Ferrari for the 2025 F1 season, a seat at Mercedes is up for grabs. But Toto Wolff intends to move with caution as his team’s future is on the line.
George Russell is expected to take over as Mercedes’ lead driver following the conclusion of the 2024 season. As far as his teammate is concerned, many young drivers have been listed as ideal fits. However, Toto Wolff might be tempted to contest a like-of-like replacement for Lewis Hamilton.
Fernando Alonso Set Eyes On Mercedes Vacant Seat!
Lewis Hamilton has put Mercedes in jeopardy to fulfill his childhood dream at Ferrari. His abrupt departure has left Toto Wolff guessing over the future of the team he built from scratch. While Wolff does not blame Hamilton for switching priorities, the timing of the announcement has added to Wolff’s stress. As far as the 39-year-old’s replacement at the Brackley-based team is concerned, Toto continues to weigh his options. He told Motorsport Magazine that F1 is the world of the unknown. He never thought Lewis would leave the team for Ferrari. Thus, he is not ruling out any scenario as far as finding the right candidate for the second seat is concerned. But at the same time, the Austrian team principal is running short of options.
Amid this, an F1 insider has reported that two-time world champion Fernando Alonso is ‘already trying to position himself’ for the vacant Mercedes seat. The 42-year-old oldest driver on the gird is showing no signs of slowing down. He notably bounced back with Aston Martin in the 2023 season. Not only that, Alonso is a perfect like-for-like replacement for Hamilton as he is experienced and a former champion. Notably, the Spaniard was also Lewis’ first teammate at McLaren in 2008. He then moved to Ferrari, which didn’t work, and Alonso subsequently replaced Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin ahead of the 2023 season. Additionally, an F1 insider’s report states that while Fernando Alonso is not on Toto Wolff’s list right now, he could be considered in the near future. As of now, every possible scenario is on the table.
Why Sebastian Vettel’s Comeback Makes Sense A Distressed Toto Wolff?
Eddie Jordan, while speaking to the Formula for Success podcast, said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff remains disturbed by Lewis Hamilton’s sudden switch. But finding a replacement before the 2024 season ends remains a paramount priority for the Austrian team principal. Amid this, the former F1 boss touted Sebastian Vettel as a perfect replacement for Lewis at Silver Arrows.
Sebastian Vettel, who retired at the end of the 2022 season, could be tempted to return to Mercedes to drive in a competitive car. Moreover, for the Silver Arrows, hiring a German driver would only add to the popularity. However, Toto Wolff previously rejected the idea of having Sebastian on board as he says Vettel is not keen on returning to the grid anytime soon.
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