Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari: 6 Drivers Who Can Take His Place in Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari was breaking news that shocked the Formula 1 world last week. Although the Mercedes team states it’s too early to seek a replacement, they will look for a new driver to fill the void at some point. Who can it be?

On February 1st, the agreement between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari was officially announced by the latter. A move of such scale last time happened in 2014 when Fernando Alonso went to McLaren, and Vettel took his seat, although it was one of those secrets everyone knew about. In comparison, no one suspected that Hamilton would be Charles Leclerc’s new teammate next season.

Now, everyone knows Lewis Hamilton signing with Ferrari and completing their team in 2025. At first, there were only questionable rumours that the seven-time World Champion might move to Ferrari at some point, but no one expected it to happen that soon. 

Lewis Hamilton Switches Teams, But Who is Going to Replace Him? 

As soon as information about Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari hit the headlines, everyone’s asking who would join Mercedes after their champion’s departure. Whoever takes his place will trigger more and more driver movements unless it is a driver from Mercedes’s Academy or Mick Schumacher. So, according to online gambling sites in the UK, who is most likely to become George Russell’s new teammate in 2025?

Alexander Albon Can Replace Lewis Hamilton 

A viable option could be Russell’s longtime friend, Alex Albon, seeking a promotion from Williams. Although he hasn’t secured victories in F1 yet, the Thai-British driver has demonstrated his readiness for a greater opportunity by rebuilding his reputation post-Red Bull. 

While Albon still has room for improvement, he has reached an impressive peak in both the technical and intellectual aspects of driving. He has matured and evolved as a driver and is known for being a fantastic individual to collaborate with, displaying exceptional qualities outside the car. At Williams, he has stepped up as a team leader, consistently handling pressure well and making few, if any, notable errors. Hence, his Bet365 odds of joining Mercedes are good enough to bet on his move to Mercedes.

Fernando Alonso’s Odds are Not that Bad

Right before the Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari news, Sky Sports stated that Mercedes offered Fernando Alonso a contract for the next season. Alonso has one more year with Aston Martin, and last season’s performance showed that he is a driver far from retirement.

A potential move to a top-3 team like Mercedes is an excellent opportunity for Alonso to take his 33rd victory in Formula 1 and stay for another year or two in the sport. Last Friday, it was confirmed that Mercedes had contacted Alonso about a potential move to the Brackley-based team. The insiders believe he will choose Mercedes only if Aston Martin does not deliver a competitive car that can fight for top-3 places. Aston Martin punched above their weight, and they need to prove their ambitions in 2024; otherwise, Alonso goes to Mercedes, accompanied by quite decent Bet365 odds.

Carlos Sainz Jr Switch is Still Possible 

Carlos Sainz will release his seat for Hamilton after the current F1 season ends. Chances that it was a switch between Ferrari and Mercedes are doubtful, and Sainz will move to Sauber (Stake), which will become a works team of Audi. The aim is that Sainz will be the team’s first driver, and it will be basically built around him. Carlos definitely deserves an opportunity to be a team leader, and at Audi, he will have the best chance to prove that he may be as influential of a driver as his father. Can he still join Mercedes? Bookies are unsure about it, but everything’s possible in Formula 1.

What about Mick Schumacher?

Currently serving as the reserve driver for the Silver Arrows, Mick Schumacher might be considered for a significant role, according to his uncle Ralf Schumacher. In his interview with Sky Sports News, Ralf noted that Toto Wolff, known for favouring young talents, could be open to bringing in a new driver now that Russell is strong enough to lead the team. 

Despite other potential candidates like Carlos Sainz, whom Ralf believes may end up at Audi, Mick has a plausible chance at the moment, and online sportsbooks in the UK say so. With two seasons of F1 experience with Haas, Mick hasn’t raced for a team with championship aspirations, having been unceremoniously replaced by Nico Hulkenberg after scoring points on just two occasions.

Esteban Ocon’s Candidature Grows Power Among bookies

Many fans seem to forget that there is another driver that Mercedes might consider, and it is their former academy driver, Esteban Ocon, who is also a protege of Mercedes’s Team Principal, Toto Wolff. The only question is if Ocon is ready to advance into a top team. He seems to have problems with almost every teammate that he has had and does not simply give up places, even for the good of the team. 

A potential combination of Esteban Ocon with George Russell as his teammate does not look good on the face of it. Yet, his odds of joining Mercedes improved after the news about Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari. 

Kimi Antonelli: the New Hamilton?

Finally, there’s always an option to sign up Kimi Antonelli. The standout Mercedes prospect becomes a severe consideration only if the team is willing to take a bold approach for the long term. Opting for an unexpected and thrilling choice, an immediate promotion for Formula 2 rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli could be a left-field decision. At just 17 years old, Antonelli faces a significant leap with the F2 promotion. However, if he excels, a graduation reminiscent of Hamilton’s move to McLaren in 2007 might be possible.

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