Since the announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025, there has been speculation about who will replace him at Mercedes. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has claimed that the team will make a bold choice for their new driver. Many believed that Wolff was referring to Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a highly rated junior driver who will make his Formula 2 debut in 2024. However, there is also speculation that Mercedes may be considering the more experienced George Russell or even retired champions like Sebastian Vettel or Nico Rosberg.
Wolff quickly dismissed the possibility of Vettel returning to F1, stating that Vettel had made the decision to retire from racing. Rosberg, the 2016 Champion in Mercedes colors, has also expressed that he has no plans for an F1 comeback and is content with his life in retirement. He explained that returning to F1 would require intense preparation and training to regain the necessary skills and physical fitness.
Another option for Mercedes could be Fernando Alonso, who is still actively racing and performing well. Alonso has stated that if he cannot reach an agreement with his current team, he would be an attractive option for other teams. He has received interest from Aston Martin and other teams, and it remains to be seen where he will end up.
Flavio Briatore, a former Renault F1 boss and confidante of Alonso, recently met with Wolff in Monaco. While it is unclear if Alonso’s chances of driving for Mercedes were discussed, Briatore posted a photo of the meeting on social media, sparking further speculation.
According to the Source grandprix247.com