Who could replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes? There are several candidates, including Schumacher

Recently, the entire motorsport world was surprised by the transfer of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari, where he will race from the 2025 season. Immediately, speculation began about who could replace him. Let’s take a look at the possible drivers who could take his place.

Mick Schumacher (22)

Son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, reserve driver for Mercedes. Playing in his favour is the fact that he’s already had two seasons in Formula 1, where he drove for the American Haas team, although he didn’t do too well there.

But how realistic that possibility is is questionable. Schumacher spent all of last year as a reserve driver for Mercedes. This year, he will return to racing, but will be a member of the Alpine team in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, however, praised him. He said the young driver had worked hard and was showing very good results on the simulator. Schumacher’s German nationality also plays in his favour. The strength of the sponsors will also be decisive.

Frederik Vesti (22)

Danish driver, reserve and development driver for Mercedes. But apart from free practice and 124 laps in post-season testing in Abu Dhabi, he has no F1 experience. He finished second in the Formula 2 championship last year and is a very talented driver who should not be absent from the queen of motorsport one day.

His rookie season in F2 was pretty solid, securing ninth place in the final standings and one win. He seriously competed with Theo Pourchaire last year, but his title chances were drastically reduced after two retirements in the last three races.

Esteban Ocon (27)

French driver with over seven years of experience in the Queen of Motorsport, now a driver for the Alpine stable. He was a reserve driver for Mercedes in 2019 and is also in constant contact with the German team. But the question again is whether this connection is even realistic.

Kdo do Mercedesu místo Lewise Hamiltona?

Za mě úplně ne Esteban Ocon, jak jsem tady párkrát četl. A proč? 👇

1. Není to vyloženě týmový hráč například jako Albon

2. Je drzý tím způsobem, který Mercedes nepotřebuje

3. Je to tvrdé, ale i když je rychlý jezdec, není to jméno… pic.twitter.com/H96HJmaA7S

— Tomáš Myšák (@mysak_tomas) February 2, 2024

Andrea Kimi Antonelli (17)

A very young and talented driver from Italy who will make his Formula 2 debut this season. He is in Mercedes’ junior programme, and has high hopes for the future.

He’s already being talked about as the new Verstappen. Antonelli was already driving very well in Italian Formula 4 at the age of 15 (2021). In his second season in Prema colours, he took two wins at Misano and three more at Spa-Francorchamps and Vallelunga. Further victories at Spielberg and Monza increased Antonelli’s lead in the championship and he won the title by winning the first race at Mugello.

He won a total of five titles in the junior categories. Practically wherever he went, he started winning. So Antonelli will skip the Formula 3 class altogether and make his Formula 2 debut this season.

Alexander Albon (27)

Thai-British driver with a lot of Formula 1 experience. He has worked his way up from the Red Bull B-team to the A-team in recent years, where he drove alongside Max Verstappen. But he lasted just nine races there, scoring 76 points.

Naturally, his riding confidence took a big hit and he missed the 2021 season altogether. However, he returned to the queen of motorsport for 2022, with the Williams team giving him a chance.

Albon has been driving for the British team ever since, and he can often work wonders with an increasingly weak monoposto. For the 27-year-old driver, Williams’ close ties to Mercedes, whether it be the engine itself or the environment of the Mercedes group, play into his hands.

Carlos Sainz (29)

The Spaniard is currently a Ferrari driver, but after Lewis Hamilton’s transfer and the contract extension of his teammate Charles Leclerc, it is clear that he may be looking for a new engagement after the season. He has plenty of F1 experience, but a move to Mercedes is rather unlikely.

Indeed, Sainz is most often linked with a move to the Stake F1 Team, which will become Audi in 2026. The German marque is closely linked to legendary rally driver and Sainz’s father, Carlos Sainz Sr.

There is talk behind the scenes in F1 that Audi’s F1 presence is largely a project of the current Ferrari driver’s father. After all, in order for the German brand to fully commit itself to Formula 1, it is leaving the world of the Dakar Rally, which this year was won by Sainz Sr.

Fernando Alonso (42)

The oldest driver on the F1 grid, but make no mistake. The forty-two-year-old Spaniard’s performance is still top-notch, and we can’t just throw that name away in association with Mercedes. In fact, it’s quite likely that the Silver Arrows will be looking for an experienced driver, a matador, a legend, a big name after Hamilton leaves.

Ironically, this will be partly decided by George Russell in the coming season. If he proves he can be a driving force and a clear team leader, Mercedes may look to the youngsters. Antonelli, for example, although there are still too many variables to fill the second seat at Mercedes.

Alonso is currently a driver for Aston Martin, which also has a Mercedes connection. Needless to say, the F1 icon has already provided us with more than one shocking transfer in the past.

Source: F1, X