Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton forward of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
The Formula One’ Silly Season’ regarded like it will be sedate this 12 months when two key drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, signed long-term offers with Ferrari and McLaren, respectively. Little did anybody in the F1 world anticipate a bombshell that dropped on February 1 when it was introduced Lewis Hamilton was set to affix Ferrari in 2025. While there had been rumours about Hamilton taking a swing in the pink automotive, it appeared the door had been shut when the seven-time world champion signed a two-year extension with Mercedes final 12 months, taking him until the finish of 2025.
At the finish of 2024, Hamilton would have spent 12 years at Mercedes, a workforce he joined in 2013 and has had unbelievable success, successful six world titles. With his resolution to activate a clause in a contract that allowed him to go away in 2025, the most profitable driver in F1 has put his workforce in a bind because it scurries for a alternative.
With most high drivers tied up already, Mercedes doesn’t have a whole lot of A-listers to switch one in all the biggest drivers the sport has ever seen. The Hindu seems to be at the attainable choices who may step into Hamilton’s sneakers subsequent 12 months in the Silver Arrows.
Carlos Sainz: Apart from Mercedes, Sainz is one in all the greatest losers in Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari. The incumbent Ferrari driver had hoped to type his contract earlier than the begin of the season and was angling for a long-term deal from the Scuderia. Instead, the Spaniard is out of a drive for subsequent season and isn’t in the biggest bargaining place when he sits down to talk to different groups. Though Sainz will not be the quickest driver on the grid, particularly over a single lap, he has additionally held himself admirably going in opposition to Leclerc, who’s one in all the quickest drivers on the grid.
The 29-year-old was the solely non-Red Bull driver to win a race in 2023 and brings with him a lot of expertise and a terrific work ethic. He has managed to maintain the hole to Leclerc at a decent margin and has been assertive sufficient to overrule some questionable calls from his workforce, displaying his race consciousness. At occasions in 2023, he even regarded faster when the automotive was much less suited to Leclerc. In Sainz, Mercedes will get a stable driver who’s fast sufficient to win races in the proper circumstances, maintain Russell on his toes, and financial institution the factors for the workforce in the constructors’ championship.
Fernando Alonso.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Fernando Alonso: The double World Champion will be 43 when the 2025 season begins and it may not make sense to rent a driver in the final section of his profession. But by no means depend in opposition to the wily Alonso to spring a shock, and he’ll be yearning for one final dance with a manufacturing unit workforce as he nonetheless chases a 3rd world title, practically 20 years after his first. The Spaniard remains to be working at a particularly excessive degree, as he confirmed along with his common podium finishes when the Aston Martin was aggressive at the begin of 2023. What he lacks in outright qualifying tempo, he makes up for it in his racecraft and opportunism, particularly on the opening laps. He has a great deal of expertise and might maintain his personal in opposition to anyone on the present grid on a Sunday over a race distance. At the similar time, his baggage of being a divisive persona who can destabilise the concord inside the workforce has dissuaded huge groups from hiring him in the previous. But if Mercedes chooses this route, it will be fascinating to see what the outdated fox may do.
Alexander Albon.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Alexander Albon: The Williams driver was one in all the greatest performers final 12 months regardless of being in a automotive that was in decrease midfield. The British-Thai driver completed in factors seven occasions in one in all the slowest vehicles on the grid and helped his workforce end seventh in the standings. After being overwhelmed comprehensively by Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2020, Albon’s inventory was at an all-time low and needed to sit out one season earlier than touchdown at Williams in 2022. Since then, he has rediscovered himself and turn into the de-facto workforce chief. He is quick, doesn’t make many errors and has been capable of seize factors on weekends the place Williams was remotely in competition to battle for factors. The 27-year-old may be an excellent choice for Mercedes to play the good rear-gunner to Russell.
Esteban Ocon.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Esteban Ocon: The Alpine driver may be one other low-key contender for the second Mercedes drive, contemplating he was a part of the Mercedes household and doesn’t have a contract with the French workforce for subsequent 12 months. Toto Wolff nonetheless manages Ocon and was a reserve driver for the workforce in 2019. He was seen as a future driver for the German workforce earlier than Russell’s efforts in the junior class noticed him get forward on the pecking order. Ocon hasn’t set the stage on fireplace, however he’s nonetheless a Grand Prix winner, and Mercedes is aware of sufficient about him, which takes the unpredictability out of the equation. He may be a good stop-gap answer for a 12 months or two. What will depend in opposition to him is that his teammate Pierre Gasly – in his first season at Alpine – appeared to get the higher of him in the direction of the finish of the final season.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli: This is a reputation that F1 followers would possibly begin listening to extra repeatedly in the years to return. The 17-year-old Italian has been a part of the Mercedes Young Driver Academy since 2019 and received the Formula Regional European Championship final 12 months. Widely thought-about a generational expertise like Max Verstappen, Antonelli will debut in Formula Two this 12 months and will be a brave however lifelike transfer for Mercedes. While workforce boss Wolff lately stated he needs the teen to focus solely on F2 this 12 months, he additionally hinted that the workforce has the choice to go for a daring selection. The Italian could have a steep studying curve this 12 months in F2, having been deemed adequate to skip F3, and a promising rookie season in the feeder class may properly propel him right into a full-time race seat with Mercedes.
