Formula 1 Hot Seat: Who Will Secure the 2025 Mercedes Spot?
When a seven-time World Champion decides to make a move from his team of almost 11 years to join arguably the most iconic team in the history of Formula 1, everyone takes notice. And when the driver whose seat he's taking outperforms him several times within the first 3 races of the 2024 season, speculations start to fly.
Who will end up in Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes seat for 2025? It's the question that everyone's asking, but no one knows the answer to. But based on the recent events of the already chaotic season, there seem to be a couple plausible options to look at.
1. Carlos Sainz
After an impressive victory at Albert Park in Australia, Carlos Sainz is the new hot gossip in the paddock. And rightfully so. Only just 10 days after receiving surgery for appendicitis and spending that time recovering in bed, Sainz got back into the seat of his Ferrari without training and left everyone else in the dust. Sainz was able to add yet another P1 trophy to his collection, being the only driver to break Max Verstappen's winning streak since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix of 2022. And he did it twice.
There have also been spottings of Sainz's father, Carlos Sainz Sr., talking with Mercedes team principle Toto Wolff. Of course, this doesn't confirm anything, but we know at least that Wolff is exploring his options. And with Sainz's recent performances, he is guaranteed to be given a handful of offers to choose from. Sainz will most certainly have his pick of the litter come 2025, and Mercedes might just be itching to get him in their seat.
2. Fernando Alonso
Another viable option for the Mercedes seat, Fernando Alonso could potentially bring a lot of experience and talent to the team that George Russell might not have just yet. Being a two-time World Champion, Alonso arguably has the ability to fill the shoes of Lewis Hamilton.
Alonso has mentioned that his first priority is Aston Martin, but if that doesn't work out for him, he's open to other options. Looking back, it's been evident that Alonso has been noncommittal about renewing his contract to stay in Formula 1. But he's also extremely attractive in the driver market, and he is fully aware of the position he is in to be able to negotiate a good deal for himself. If Mercedes is able to offer Alonso a deal that Aston Martin can't beat, then we might be seeing Fernando Alonso take that open Mercedes seat.
3. Kimi Antonelli
Third on this list is F2 driver Kimi Antonelli, who already drives under the Mercedes team as a junior driver and gained attention as his name has begun circulating through the paddock. At just 17 years old, Antonelli already has several titles to his name, including an F2 Championship and a Formula Regional European Championship.
Antonelli has shown to be an impressively talented young driver in every series he has raced in, which is why he already has eyes watching his performance in F2. Team principles in Formula 1 are always looking to introduce younger talent to the sport, and Antonelli definitely has the ability to stand out as one of the next drivers to move up into F1. Toto Wolff has been noted to be interested in a younger driver to replace Lewis Hamilton, especially as these younger drivers have been proving how capable they are of stepping up to the challenge. And with Wolff mentioning that Mercedes is willing to take a bold new move, it is possible that Kimi Antonelli is the perfect choice for the 2025 seat.
4. Max Verstappen
Considerably the least likely to happen, the rumors surrounding Max Verstappen and a possible move to Mercedes have still been difficult to ignore. With the recent events of Red Bull’s internal conflict and tension within the team, there have been murmurs of Verstappen distancing himself from team principle Christian Horner and possibly leaving the team altogether. Multiple staff members within the team have threatened to leave Red Bull if Horner doesn’t, which could tear the team apart from the inside out, especially if Verstappen joins them.
But, realistically, the chances are slim to none that Verstappen would leave Red Bull. He has confirmed that he is happy at Red Bull and happy with the performance of the team, so it is unlikely that he would move to a team that is arguably underperforming in comparison. It is no surprise to anyone that Verstappen is looking for the team that can best ensure him a fourth World Championship, and at the moment, that team is undoubtedly Red Bull.
