As seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton prepares to leave Mercedes for Ferrari next year, he has openly endorsed promoting a young talent from within the team's ranks to take over his seat. His recommendation highlights Mercedes junior and current F2 driver Andrea Antonelli as his favored successor.
The imminent departure of Formula 1 superstar Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes to Ferrari marks the end of an era for the Silver Arrows, with the team now considering potential replacements to drive alongside George Russell.
In the mix of candidates to replace Hamilton, names like Williams' Alex Albon, Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen have been mentioned. However, Albon and Alonso have their commitments sealed with Williams and Aston Martin, respectively. Verstappen, despite his allure as a top-tier driver, remains bound by a long-term agreement with Red Bull, albeit with rumored uncertainties post-2026.
Hamilton, amidst this speculation, has voiced a different path for Mercedes. Instead of seeking established talents from other teams, the British driver has recommended looking towards young blood from within the Mercedes family. He commented to the media ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, as quoted by Racing News 365:
"Honestly, I have no idea what Toto's plans are, but I think for me, taking on the youngster. If it were my job, my role, I would take on Kimi [Andrea Antonelli]."
Antonelli is currently making waves in F2 and represents a fresh and potentially rewarding direction for the Brackley-based squad. Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff has also acknowledged Antonelli as a potential for the 2025 seat but is also keen to not put too much pressure on the 17-year-old driver. Wolff commented to Formula One earlier in the year:
"I've said that we need to look long-term also, and on the driver line-up not in one year but in three, five or 10, and with that perspective I just wanted to keep the options open and with all the consequences that could potentially bring.
"I'm probably guilty in having talked too much about Kimi, because he's just 17, he jumped F3, he's going into F2. He needs to learn, he needs to be more, let's say, in the shadows to be able to develop, understand what to do and whether he's going to be in Formula 1 if everything goes to plan, but I don't know if that is next year or whether it's with us or someone else."
Meanwhile, the repercussions of Hamilton's move have also had a significant impact on other drivers, notably Carlos Sainz. With Hamilton signing with the Maranello-based squad to drive alongside Charles Leclerc, the Spanish driver now finds himself without a seat for next year. Hamilton commented on the situation in the same press conference:
"I think Carlos [Sainz] is a great driver, so I think wherever he goes, I think he would be a positive for any team."
Uncommon Knowledge
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