10 options to replace Hamilton at Mercedes

The dust has finally settled from Lewis Hamilton’s shocking decision to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari in 2025. With the Scuderia pairing the seven-time world champion with rising star Charles Leclerc, who will Mercedes select to partner George Russell?

Here are the top drivers who could replace Hamilton at Mercedes.

Carlos Sainz

Two problems solved with one swap: the driver Hamilton is replacing at Ferrari ends up at Mercedes. Sainz is a reliable veteran who’s scored a win and multiple poles in each of the last two seasons. Plus, the Brackley-based team might be as good of a bet as Ferrari when the new 2026 engine regulations roll around.

The better question might be if this move works for Sainz. It’s hard to picture him snatching the lead driver role from Russell. The Spaniard might also fetch interest from Kick Sauber and Aston Martin, according to Lawrence Barretto of the “F1 Nation” podcast.

Alex Albon

It feels like only a matter of time before Albon graduates from Williams after rebuilding his reputation as one of the grid’s most underrated drivers. However, Albon’s path to Mercedes – or any other team for that matter – hit a significant roadblock after team principal James Vowles announced Monday that the Thai driver is signed to Williams through 2025, and not 2024 like previously thought.

That doesn’t make Mercedes swooping in impossible, though it’ll likely require a buyout. Make no mistake, though: Albon is well worth the money. He’s single-handedly carried Williams since joining the legendary team in 2022. Plus, pairing him with paddock friend Russell – who Albon recently revealed put in a good word for him for a Williams seat in 2021 – would give Mercedes a formidable duo for the present and future.

Fernando Alonso

A driver chastised for his poorly timed career decisions, perhaps Alonso can find another stroke of luck from Hamilton’s departure. After enjoying the riches that Aston Martin had to offer in the first half of the 2023 season, it seems like a good time to jump ship to Mercedes following his team’s second-half slump.

It wouldn’t be the first time Alonso worked behind the curtain to make a shocking move. He announced his move to McLaren amid back-to-back championships for Renault and only two years ago undercut Alpine to join Aston Martin.

This makes sense for Mercedes, too. Alonso’s dependability and consistency would buy the team time to assess its long-term options. And if the Silver Arrows are looking for a driver who can extract the maximum from a car like Hamilton could, Alonso is the next closest bet. Knowing Alonso’s competitiveness, he’d probably relish the challenge to upstage his longtime rival, too.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Toto Wolff mentioned that Hamilton’s opening gives the team an opportunity to be “bold.” There’d be nothing bolder than promoting teenage prodigy Antonelli to the Mercedes seat in 2025.

Antonelli, who is still just 17, is skipping Formula 3 and jumping right to Formula 2 after dominating all his previous series. That should demonstrate Mercedes’ belief in him. Hamilton’s previous contract timeline – a one-year deal plus an option for 2025 – means Mercedes planned to give Antonelli his Formula 1 debut no later than 2026 anyway. If he impresses in Formula 2 this year, don’t be surprised if the sport’s biggest prospect since Max Verstappen is sitting in a Mercedes next season.

Valtteri Bottas

Who better to replace Hamilton than the driver who raced alongside him for five seasons at Mercedes? Bottas’ first priority has been securing an Audi drive for 2026, but if the German manufacturer makes it known he’s not in its long-term plans before then, the Finnish pilot could return to Brackley.

Bottas left open the possibility of a return Monday at Kick Sauber’s launch, stating there’s no team he wouldn’t drive for if an Audi seat doesn’t happen. A reunion with Mercedes would also give the team a proven commodity.

Esteban Ocon

Mercedes is in the DNA of Ocon’s Formula 1 career. He came into the sport as one of its junior drivers and served as its reserve pilot in 2019 after he was replaced at Racing Point. However, he’s never driven for the eight-time constructors’ champions.

Ocon is one of the few drivers to have won a race recently while not driving for Mercedes, Red Bull, or Ferrari. He’s also held his own against the likes of Daniel Ricciardo, Alonso, and Pierre Gasly since rejoining the grid in 2020 with Renault. He’s not the flashiest pick, but Ocon’s ties to Mercedes make him an easy fit for the 2025 seat.

Mick Schumacher

There’s not enough time to fully detail what the name Schumacher means to Mercedes’ history. Michael Schumacher entered Formula 1 as a Mercedes-managed driver and ended his career with the Silver Arrows. Now could Mercedes give his son a second chance in the series?

It’d be quite the story, but Schumacher is a logical option as well. Few likely know the car and team dynamics better; he served as Mercedes’ reserve and development driver in 2023 after parting ways with Haas and the Ferrari academy.

Daniel Ricciardo

There are a lot of unknowns about Ricciardo’s current ability. He lost his confidence as he slumped through two disappointing years with McLaren. With only seven races for AlphaTauri last season, it’s hard to determine his pace. If Ricciardo returns to being his old self, it’d be ideal for Mercedes to poach him. His brand-friendly personality would also help soften the loss of Hamilton’s massive marketability.

Unfortunately, this seems like a pipe dream after Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko recently ruled the Australian off limits in light of Mercedes speculation.

Nico Hulkenberg

Hulkenberg is one of the oldest candidates as he’ll be 37 by 2025. Despite his age, Hulkenberg hasn’t lost much pace judging by his qualifying performances with Haas. A move to Mercedes could provide a satisfying ending to his Formula 1 career and also allow him to hopefully nab a first podium.

Sebastian Vettel

Wolff tried throwing cold water on this possibility last week, telling reporters that he still keeps in contact with Vettel but hasn’t discussed driving for Mercedes.

Hamilton’s shocking move to Ferrari proved you can never say never, though. After all, the four-time German world champion would certainly be another “bold” choice for Wolff. Vettel could serve as a stopgap solution before Mercedes hands the keys to Antonelli in 2026.

While Vettel appeared to have lost a step during his final years in Formula 1, coming out of retirement for a short stint with Mercedes – the same decision his idol Michael Schumacher once made – would be too poetic to pass up on.