Lewis Hamilton's dramatic decision to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari for 2025 has ignited the Formula 1 headlines and the driver market. So what options do the Silver Arrows have with regards to a replacement?
TL;DR:
Carlos Sainz, though sources say Aston Martin, Sauber, Alpine and Williams are potential teams where he could land
Surprisingly no one seem to mention Mick Schumacher (who I have forgotten about until I saw him in a meme this morning), even though Toto made sure that he appeared alongside him at every GP 🙃
In 2025 it might be a decent car. Even in 2024 it might be a decent car. Even if it was the same as it has been, it’s still capable of 2nd in the championship and Merc should put someone better in it.
I’d pick Ocon over him, they just need a stopgap until Antonelli’s ready. But Gasly should be in contention too, he had a better season in his first year. Albon is just overrated by likeability.
Until the end of 2024, also Piastri was more of an incompetent oversight and leniant terms than just a bad contract, but the ones involved are gone now anyway
Surprisingly no one seem to mention Mick Schumacher (who I have forgotten about until I saw him in a meme this morning), even though Toto made sure that he appeared alongside him at every GP 🙃
Yep, that one!
But not in a Merc he doesn’t!
You mean that Mick doesn’t deserve (as Toto calls the car) a “shitbox”?
In 2025 it might be a decent car. Even in 2024 it might be a decent car. Even if it was the same as it has been, it’s still capable of 2nd in the championship and Merc should put someone better in it.
I thought of him first thing when I heard the news, but posting that, at least on Reddit, always gets a hoard of haters going.
Reddit is a hoard of haters. The sooner that site goes down, the better.
Those merc garage appearances (like he did for Ocon and De Vries) are Toto being a driver manager, not Toto being a team boss.
I see a 0.5% chance that Merc hires Schumacher as GP driver.
Probably depends on his performance driving for Alpine in WEC
Being good in WEC =/= being good in F1, as evidenced by countless drivers.
I’d pick Ocon over him, they just need a stopgap until Antonelli’s ready. But Gasly should be in contention too, he had a better season in his first year. Albon is just overrated by likeability.
I know they are famously bad at contracts, but isn’t Ocon contracted for a while at Alpine?
Until the end of 2024, also Piastri was more of an incompetent oversight and leniant terms than just a bad contract, but the ones involved are gone now anyway