Mercedes have drawn up their shortlist of possible replacements for Lewis Hamilton, who’s heading to Ferrari next year. Toto Wolff will be watching each name on it closely as he makes a decision in conjunction with his fellow shareholders.
The dream, of course, is to poach Max Verstappen from Red Bull. But while Verstappen may be on the market for 2026, he’s unlikely to move this year.
That leaves Wolff with a decision to make – go for a stop-gap to keep the seat warm for the Dutchman, or make a long-term signing who could create an issue further down the line. Much will depend on how much the team value George Russell.
Carlos Sainz doesn’t seem particularly interested in a brief stint. Mercedes have offered him a guaranteed one-year deal with the option for a second, but he’s insisted on a greater commitment.
Academy driver Kimi Antonelli is a contender too, but the Silver Arrows haven’t fielded a rookie since they returned to F1 in 2010. Nico Rosberg is among those to warn them that it could be too early for the Italian, who may benefit instead from a year in the midfield.
If they can’t come to an agreement with Sainz and 2025 is too soon for Antonelli, then Wolff may decide to go down the short-term solution route. He could look to the experience of Valtteri Bottas, who drove for the team between 2017 and 2021, or turn to his former reserve instead.
Esteban Ocon may have jeopardised his chances of earning Mercedes seat
According to The Mirror, Esteban Ocon has been a ‘candidate’ for a return to Brackley. He served as the understudy to Hamilton and Bottas in 2019 and continues to be managed by Wolff.
However, he may now have hurt his prospects of making the jump from Alpine. Ocon incurred the wrath of team principal Bruno Famin after colliding with teammate Pierre Gasly at the start of the Monaco Grand Prix.
And the report states that Mercedes ‘aren’t likely to be impressed with the sort of driving he demonstrated’ in the principality. Famin is set to punish Ocon and could even suspend him for the Canadian GP, potentially turning to reserve driver Jack Doohan.
What Martin Brundle said about ‘irrational’ Esteban Ocon after Monaco Grand Prix
The best-case scenario from here, given Famin’s evident fury, looks like a considerable fine for Ocon. The team could also institute a new protocol going forward, forbidding their drivers from battling out on track.
And they might also take a leaf out of Mercedes’ book. Back in 2016, Wolff forced Rosberg and Hamilton to agree to specific rules of engagement under the threat of a one-race ban.
This came after they took each other out of the race at the start of the Spanish GP. The team principal will remember what the atmosphere within the team was like in that period, and he’ll want to avoid a repeat with Ocon and Russell.
Speaking in commentary, Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle said Ocon’s move at Portier was the kind of thing you simply ‘don’t do’ up against your teammate. And after the race, he said his ‘irrational red-mist’ will dissuade top teams from signing him.
The 27-year-old is a Grand Prix winner with three podiums to his name, but he has a history of tension with teammates. His rivalry with Sergio Perez at Racing Point was particularly fraught, with the duo making contact three times during their partnership.
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