Bernie Collins tells Mercedes they shouldn’t sign 299-race driver for 2025

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Mercedes shouldn’t sign a driver with nearly 300 races’ worth of experience for 2025, Sky Sports F1 pundit Bernie Collins says.

The Silver Arrows need to find a drive to replace seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who’s joining Ferrari.

And speaking on the Fast and the Curious Podcast, Collins told Mercedes there’s one route they shouldn’t explore.

Team principal Toto Wolff has held talks with world champion Max Verstappen, but Red Bull fully expect him to honour his contract.

• READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Mercedes AMG F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Two-time title winner Fernando Alonso is also a candidate, though Martin Brundle thinks he may have damaged his chances.

Alonso received a 20-second penalty for his role in George Russell’s race-ending crash at the Australian Grand Prix.

Karun Chandhok, meanwhile, has urged Mercedes to pursue Carlos Sainz, who won the race in Melbourne ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc.

Provided Red Bull retain Sergio Perez alongside Verstappen, the Hamilton replacement gig is likely to be the most coveted opportunity on the grid.

Bernie Collins tells Mercedes to avoid Sebastian Vettel move

Mercedes could try and tempt Sebastian Vettel to come back, two years after he announced his retirement at Aston Martin.

Vettel, now 36, is a four-time world champion who’s competed in 299 races, winning 53 of them.

But Collins, who worked alongside him as head of strategy at Aston, urged Mercedes to take a more ‘long term’ view.

She thinks they should target a younger driver who can spend a year adapting in 2025 in preparation for the significant rule changes a year later.

When asked whether Mercedes should pursue Vettel, Collins said: “Surely Mercedes need to be looking a bit more long term, looking at the new engine regs, thinking ‘we need someone who’s going to learn from George for a year maybe, and then be ready to hit the ground running in 2026’.

“That’s what Mercedes should do.”

Is Vettel an option for Toto Wolff?

Vettel says he remains in contact with Wolff, but hasn’t spoken to him about the possibility of succeeding Hamilton.

Reports have suggested that the German would be keen on the idea of returning to F1 with Mercedes.

Former F1 driver Hans Stuck is ‘100%’ convinced that he’ll partner Russell at the Brackley-based team next year.

And ex-team boss Eddie Jordan has told the German manufacturer it would ‘make sense’ to sign the 57-time polesitter.

He could potentially serve as a stop-gap before teenage talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli takes over.

Wolff regards academy driver Antonelli as the next Verstappen but he’s only 17 years old and is just three weekends into his Formula 2 career.