Mercedes have been assessing possible replacements for Lewis Hamilton ever since the winter. The seven-time world champion informed the team in the off-season that he was headed to Ferrari for 2025.
In that time, there have been a whole host of drivers linked. Mercedes may not be one of the three teams competing at the front of the grid this year – they’re now 175 points behind Red Bull – but they can still offer one of the most desirable seats in F1.
Rumours suggest that the German giants have an early advantage over their competitors with their new-look 2026 engine. The last time we saw regulation changes of this scale, they embarked on a historic run of dominance.
Carlos Sainz has naturally been one of those taking a look at the vacancy. With Red Bull set to retain Sergio Perez, it’s the best available spot on the grid.
However, the Spaniard has reached an ‘impasse’ in his negotiations with Mercedes. Toto Wolff wants to bide his time as he holds out hope of signing Max Verstappen, while Sainz is eager for clarity over his future.
Elsewhere, Mercedes held talks with Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso and Williams ace Alex Albon before they signed new contracts. There was even talk of a sensational swoop for Sebastian Vettel.
Kimi Antonelli has now won over entire Mercedes board
It now seems as if Wolff’s driver search may be nearing its end, with the Mercedes board unanimously behind Kimi Antonelli. There was initially some scepticism over hiring the Italian.
After all, he’s only 17 years old, and this is his first season racing in Formula 2. Mercedes haven’t fielded a rookie since their return to F1 in 2010, with George Russell forced to earn his stripes at Williams for three years.
According to the print edition of Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via Formula Passion, there were only three votes in favour of Antonelli as recently as ‘a few weeks ago’. Team principal Wolff was among them.
Now, however, all 15 members have offered their approval after a meeting to decide on the driver line-up. Wolff believes Antonelli can be the team’s own Verstappen as he tries to sign the Dutchman himself for 2026.
How Antonelli beat George Russell in Mercedes test
What changed for the Mercedes board members? Antonelli’s performance in F2 has been good, but unspectacular, with the Italian currently sixth in the championship.
The real difference-maker was his performance in a private test at Silverstone. After a ‘stunning’ showing on his own at Imola, the team put him directly up against Russell for an elite-level reference point.
And Antonelli reportedly matched the 11-time podium-finisher in qualifying trim before out-pacing him on a race run. Given his inexperience, this would have been seen as a monumental feat.
2016 F1 world champion Nico Rosberg has previously warned Mercedes that it’s too early to promote the teenager, while 1996 title-winner Damon Hill says he’s facing a great deal of ‘expectation’. But if Wolff and co. had doubts, the academy driver has gone a long way to removing them.
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