As of: April 3, 2024, 9:40 a.m
By: Jannek Ringen
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In the coming season, Lewis Hamilton will leave the Mercedes Formula 1 team for Ferrari. But who will follow in his footsteps?
Brackley – The coming season will mark the dawn of a new era for the Mercedes Formula 1 team. Record world champion Lewis Hamilton has been driving for the racing team since 2013, but will be donning Ferrari's red overalls in the coming season. His successor is now a hotly debated topic.
Who will follow in Lewis Hamilton's footsteps?
Next season, Lewis Hamilton's time in the Mercedes will end after twelve very successful years for the racing team. The Brit went on an incredible winning streak and dominated the sport in the 2010s. In the late autumn of his Formula 1 career, the 39-year-old is looking for a new challenge and will join Ferrari in 2025.
While his teammate George Russell will remain on board, they are looking for a successor to fill Hamilton's big shoes. Most recently, the two German drivers Mick Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel were traded for the cockpit at Mercedes. According to information from
Welt
, however, the two are out of the race as team boss Toto Wolff is said to have two clear favorites.
Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher will probably not be in the Mercedes cockpit next season. © IMAGO / NurPhoto; IMAGO / NurPhoto;IMAGO / Motorsport Images
Verstappen or Alonso? Wolff has a favorite
The two names that are being considered for Hamilton's successor are Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso. Wolff already has a preference. “I would like to have Max,” he explained after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Although his contract with Red Bull runs until 2028, he could leave the team by clause as soon as Dr. Helmut Marko is no longer part of the team. Given the internal power struggles at Red Bull, this is not an impossible scenario.
The second candidate for the Mercedes cockpit is the experienced Alonso. Like Hamilton, he is also in the late autumn of his career. At 42 years old, he has a lot of experience and is still one of the best drivers in the field. In addition, he is said to have made a decisive contribution to the development of Alpine and Aston Martin. A factor that should not be underestimated.
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Is Mercedes starting the driver carousel in Formula 1?
Mercedes' decision could have an impact on the entire Formula 1. Next year, the contracts of twelve of the 20 drivers in the premier class of motorsport will expire. There could be a big backlash in Formula 1 next winter.
It should be clear within the paddock that the trigger for this will most likely be Mercedes. Despite the sporty last few seasons, it is still the most sought-after cockpit in Formula 1 due to its charisma.
(jari)