Just in case you missed it, Lewis Hamilton shocked everyone when he said that he was leaving Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
This means that Mercedes have a tough decision to make regarding who will fill the massive gap left by the seven-time world champion, but at least team principal Toto Wolff is not bitter about it at all.
With that said, this surprising news has triggered the “silly season” ahead of 2025, especially since half of the current starting grid is going to be out of contract by the end of 2024.
So, this begs the question: who will race alongside George Russell for the Silver Arrows in 2025 and beyond? Continue reading below as SBOTOP shares our top candidates.
Carlos Sainz Jr.
Carlos Sainz Jr. is the first name to pop out since he’s collateral damage to Lewis Hamilton’s impending Ferrari arrival. But that doesn’t mean that he’s chopped liver, by any means, to Mercedes if ever they do make the swap.
The Spaniard is going to be one of the most valued free agents once he hits the open market because he was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a Grand Prix in 2023 during the Singapore Grand Prix, and he reportedly has a good relationship with Toto Wolff.
The reason why signing Sainz Jr. makes sense for the Silver Arrows is because of his professionalism and consistency in hauling in a lot of points, and such a trend should continue with George Russell as his (potential) new teammate.
Perhaps the only drawback of this happening is that Sainz Jr., who is in his prime years, is also reportedly being eyed by Aston Martin, Sauber, Alpine, and Williams too, and Mercedes aren’t keen to engage in a bidding war.
Esteban Ocon
Given his familiarity with the Silver Arrows since he was their reserve driver in 2019, Esteban Ocon should be considered as part of the shortlist.
The Frenchman managed to outperform Fernando Alonso during their last year together in Alpine with his P8 finish in the 2022 drivers’ championship and was competitive against teammate Pierre Gasly last season despite having six DNFs, which is more than any other driver.
While Ocon recently affirmed his commitment to Alpine in the long run, he said that he is open to other options, including a reunion with Mercedes.
Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso is going to be out of contract at Aston Martin at the end of 2024. He can choose to retire from the sport since he’ll be 43 at that time, but if he doesn’t, he might consider a move to the Silver Arrows.
The evergreen Spaniard has proven time and time again that if you give him the right machinery, he will be competitive, which was evident last season at Aston Martin since he was contending for podiums on a regular basis.
But it remains to be seen whether Mercedes would want such a big personality alongside George Russell, although in theory, adding Alonso might prove beneficial since he will get to mentor his younger Englishman teammate.
And compared to Aston Martin, Mercedes gives Fernando Alonso a better chance of winning, which is his utmost priority at this juncture of his Formula 1 career.
Alex Albon
After a stellar 2023 campaign, Alex Albon’s stock has considerably risen, making him one of the most sought-after drivers on the market.
Albon essentially secured P7 for Williams in the constructors’ championship, as he scored 27 of their 28 points last season, and he should only continue to get better. If he continues to generate positive Formula 1 2024 results, he should be the centerpiece of Williams’ major rebuild moving forward.
The Thai-British racer’s current contract with Williams will end after 2025. But if Mercedes come calling, Albon may find it hard to resist joining the Silver Arrows, and he might do so similar to how Valtteri Bottas joined Mercedes in 2017 to replace Nico Rosberg as Lewis Hamilton’s running mate.
Mick Schumacher
If Mercedes are looking for an in-house replacement, then Mick Schumacher is their man, although the Formula 1 2024 odds of this happening are quite a long shot since his Formula 1 career has yet to take off. The 24-year-old has made it known that he wants to return to Formula 1 soon. Schumacher is set to compete for Alpine in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, and if he does well there, he might get the opportunity to follow in his dad’s footsteps.
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