Rachel Brookes says expensive 24-year-old could be the ideal Lewis Hamilton replacement

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Sky Sports journalist Rachel Brookes believes that McLaren star Lando Norris would be the perfect driver for Mercedes to target to replace Lewis Hamilton in 2025.

The race to replace the seven-time world champion is going to be one of the biggest talking points of the season after Ferrari secured the 39-year-old’s signature.

Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, Brookes believes that Mercedes have to consider hiring Lando Norris despite the difficulties that may pose.

Brookes believes Mercedes have to go for Norris ahead of 2025 season

Few teams on the grid right now are a more attractive prospect than Mercedes.

They’ve been the dominant force in Formula 1 over the last ten years, although Red Bull have recently overtaken them.

Toto Wolff’s team failed to win a race in 2023 and Lewis Hamilton has now gone two seasons without a victory.

Despite all of this, Lando Norris is unlikely to be itching to swap McLaren for Mercedes for several reasons.

Towards the end of last year, McLaren were arguably Red Bull’s closest rival after an incredible development program throughout 2023.

Norris is still yet to win an F1 race but regularly featured on the podium while rookie Oscar Piastri won the Sprint Race in Qatar.

The 24-year-old showed just how much faith he has in the team by signing a new contract last month.

Despite this, Brookes still believes Norris would be a fine option for Mercedes in 2025 even if he would be incredibly expensive.

The Brit has a good relationship with George Russell and is undeniably one of the fastest drivers on the grid.

Mercedes under pressure to make the right call ahead of next season

Speaking about the options available to Wolff, Brookes said: “If you don’t pick him [Andrea Kimi Antonelli], is it worth getting Fernando [Alonso] for one year when all the regulations are all going to change in 2026?

“Or, who else do you put in that seat? I mean, my tip would be Lando [Norris] but that’s going to cost an awful lot of money to get him out of that McLaren contract isn’t it?

“He’s signed on for a long time, it’s going to cost a lot.”

Norris has already been told by friend and rival Max Verstappen to stay where he is for the foreseeable future.

Mercedes fans would likely agree with Brookes that Norris makes a lot of sense as Hamilton’s successor for 2025 and beyond.

As Ferrari have shown, contracts don’t always mean a move isn’t possible after the 39-year-old activated a break clause that will bring his deal to an end 12 months early.

However, it’s unlikely Norris will have the option to walk away from McLaren a year into a new multi-year agreement.

It means if Wolff and co. decide Norris is the right man, they’ll need to get their chequebook out and convince the young driver that his prospects of becoming a champion are better with the Silver Arrows than with the Woking-based team.