Mercedes will have to deploy the necessary resources to bring in Lewis Hamilton’s replacement

Mercedes is already thinking about 2025. Lewis Hamilton has announced his departure to rival Ferrari, after 11 years alongside Toto Wolff.

Replacing Lewis Hamilton is proving to be quite a difficult task. In 2023, he was the strongest driver, apart from Red Bull, finishing 3rd. Toto Wolff knows that finding a new driver of his caliber will not be easy. With the early announcement of his decision, Lewis had the team’s well-being in mind, said the Mercedes team manager. This way, we have planning security and can assess the market.

Mercedes finished the 2023 season with a second place in the constructor’s championship. However, the team did not display great confidence for the upcoming season. This factor could have played a role in Lewis Hamilton’s decision-making. Despite the uncertainty that this departure brings, former driver Christian Danner affirms that Mercedes should consider all available names as the team should not have any financial restrictions. “Every name must be discussed!” stated the German in an interview with Bild. It can only be about whether a driver is a reinforcement or not. There should be no legal or monetary obstacles. Age is also not important. The same goes for contracts. Every driver who has the level to drive a silver arrow should be a candidate. That’s why Mercedes should also consider Max Verstappen.

The Max Verstappen option.

With Lewis Hamilton’s departure, discussions about Max Verstappen quickly emerged. From a sporting perspective, he is the perfect replacement. The Dutchman is a triple World Champion and has somewhat taken over from Lewis Hamilton. He is the star driver and the best in the paddock over the past three years. Director Toto Wolff has confirmed that even this option will be considered. “We will always strive to have the best combination of drivers possible,” said the engineer to Bild. “For this, we will discuss a lot with the candidates. We have seen with Lewis how quickly situations can change. At the same time, we of course respect existing contracts.”

On the contractual aspect, the case seems delicate. The Dutchman is a driver for the Red Bull Racing team, with whom he wins everything. Therefore, he has signed a contract until 2028 with Christian Horner’s team. « Drivers will always want to sit in the fastest car. Now, it is up to us to build it », Toto Wolff confided. Not only in the short and medium term, but again in the long term. This results in possibilities. »

Mercedes had already tried to recruit Verstappen in 2014.

Mercedes had already tried to secure the services of Max Verstappen in 2014. The Dutchman ultimately chose the Austrian program. The triple World Champion saw more opportunities to become a regular driver in a team undergoing a major reconstruction. Christian Danner believes that Mercedes should make another attempt for 2025.

Max would of course be the best possible solution, but McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris would both be among the best successors to Lewis, the German confided in Bild. Both bring everything they have to win multiple world titles – if they have the right car. After two years of crisis, Mercedes now has to prove that they can still do it.

The sexagenarian adds: « Hamilton’s departure will of course hurt Mercedes, but it can also be an opportunity. The advantage for Wolff & Co. is that they can monitor whoever they want for months. And with George Russell, they already have a driver who can carry the team on his shoulders. »

The German team officially unveils its race car at something, on February 14, 2023.