Scenario For Hamilton's Replacement Including Young 'Superstar' Outlined By Grosjean

Sunday, 04 February 2024 at 16:00

Former F1 driver Romain Grosjean recently posted a video on his YouTube channel highlighting potential replacements for Lewis Hamilton in Mercedes for seasons beyond 2024.

Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes a season earlier than initially expected causes quite a headache to the team principal, Toto Wolff, who now has to search for a replacement.

The good thing is that the seven-time World Champion let him know a year earlier, so Wolff does not have to rush his decision at the moment.

While there are many options in the driver market at the moment, Romain Grosjean highlighted in his video the young and talented Mercedes Academy driver who isn't in F1 at the moment but has enormous potential.

"I think they have a very talented driver, superstar, coming through their ranks named Kimi Antonelli. I think he is one of the most exciting drivers to come to Formula 1. But, he may be a little bit young to jump into Mercedes in 2025."

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Kimi Antonelli is currently only 17 years old but has shown great promise, winning almost all the junior series he has been part of so far. This year, he skipped F3 to race in F2.

If Antonelli scored a great result in F2, something like top 3 in the Championship, we might see him in F1 next year. Grosjean continued:

"So, why couldn't they go and take Albon for a year, maybe? We know they have a strong relationship with Williams being the power unit supplier for Williams F1 team."

Alex Albon has a great relationship with George Russell, so they would work together very well as a team. He showed his strength in 2023, and he will definitely be one of Wolff's top picks.

"So maybe have Alex Albon going to Mercedes and then Kimi Antonelli getting ready at Williams before jumping into Mercedes. That could definitely be an option for them."

According to Lawrence Barretto, Mercedes is prepared to offer a two-year deal to their next driver. Would Albon be interested in a two-year deal? That remains a question.

The Williams driver is also rumored to have received a three-year contract offer from Red Bull. Nevertheless, there are many options for Mercedes to choose from at the moment, as the Frenchman added:

"There's a lot of drivers in the market; there's a lot of drivers that are dreaming to drive for Mercedes - as I say, one of the most successful teams in F1 history."