Wolff still does not rule out Verstappen for..

Toto Wolff still does not rule out Verstappen for… Read More.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has not completely dismissed the possibility of signing Max Verstappen, the three-time world champion, as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, although he acknowledges that the chances are slim.

In a surprising move earlier this year, Ferrari announced that Lewis Hamilton would be joining their team. Hamilton, who was under contract with Mercedes until the end of the 2025 F1 season, exercised an exit clause to leave the team where he won six of his seven world titles.

With Hamilton’s departure, Mercedes has been actively searching for the right driver to fill the void left by the seven-time champion. Carlos Sainz was one of the names frequently mentioned, but the Spaniard, who will be leaving Ferrari due to Hamilton’s arrival, has already signed a contract with Williams for the next two years.

Currently, the most likely candidate to replace Hamilton appears to be Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the young Italian F2 sensation. Antonelli has been part of the Mercedes junior driver academy for several years and is considered the top contender for the second seat alongside George Russell.

Toto Wolff has confirmed that the 17-year-old Antonelli is his first choice for the role. He stated, “The criteria for our next driver are simple: we want the best available. At the moment, my first option is Kimi Antonelli.”

Wolff further elaborated on Antonelli’s talent, emphasizing that while there are risks involved, it’s not a question of the young driver’s talent. The main concern is how Antonelli would handle the pressure from the media and the challenge of competing alongside George Russell, who is regarded as one of the top drivers on the grid.

“Kimi has enormous potential,” Wolff added. “His speed and talent are undeniable; what he lacks is experience.”

Wolff also acknowledged that if Antonelli joins Formula One, it will take time for him to gain the necessary experience and get up to speed. He cited the example of Oscar Piastri, who took about a year and a half to reach a level where he could compete for victories against his teammate, Lando Norris. Mercedes hopes to take a similar approach with Antonelli, especially during the transitional period in 2025, ahead of the major regulatory changes in 2026.

In addition to Antonelli, there has been speculation about Max Verstappen potentially joining Mercedes as Hamilton’s replacement. Despite Verstappen’s long-term contract with Red Bull, there has been internal unrest within the team, leading to rumors of a possible exit for the Dutch driver.

Although Red Bull has confirmed that Verstappen will remain with the team, Wolff has not ruled out the possibility of Verstappen joining Mercedes. However, he admits that such a scenario seems unlikely at the moment.

“An alternative scenario is, of course, Verstappen, but at the moment it doesn’t seem realistic to me. I will continue to observe the market. I’m not sure how the situation will evolve at Red Bull,” Wolff concluded.