Mercedes are ‘virtually certain’ to name ‘prodigious’ driver as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement

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Mercedes have the most exciting open seat still available for the 2025 Formula 1 season but are taking their time to fill it.

Team principal Toto Wolff knows he’s in a position of power right now with the current state of the driver’s market and has his pick of every available racer who hasn’t signed a contract for next season.

While Wolff would still like to bring Max Verstappen in to replace Lewis Hamilton, that appears to be less and less likely.

Verstappen was furious with Red Bull during the Hungarian Grand Prix but one race isn’t going to change his mind about staying with the current Constructors’ champions for 2025.

Instead, Mercedes have narrowed their search for their Hamilton replacement down to a couple of drivers.

Writing on his blog, journalist Joe Saward has shared who is now ‘virtually certain’ to be partnering with George Russell next year.

Carlos Sainz is definitely an option for Mercedes according to Wolff as he continues to assess his options for 2025.

The Spaniard is the most exciting free agent on the grid but not the only driver on Mercedes’s radar.

Instead, youngster Kimi Antonelli is beginning to find his feet in Formula 2 and has put in his best two performances of the season in the last two races.

Saward believes that while that’s not the only reason Mercedes are likely to sign Antonelli, he could be announced as their newest driver in the next few weeks.

Antonelli has admitted he’s not 100% sure he’s ready for F1 just yet, but he may discover sooner rather than later if he’s capable of making that final step up in one of the most rapid ascendancy through the junior ranks ever seen.

READ MORE: Who is Mercedes academy driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli? Everything to know

Kimi Antonelli ‘virtually certain’ to drive for Mercedes in 2025

Talking about the choice Mercedes have to make, Saward said: “Thus it is now virtually certain that Mercedes will soon name Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement in 2025.

“In the last couple of weeks, Antonelli has come on strong in Formula 2, winning the Sprint race in Silverstone with aplomb and then driving to an assured victory in the Feature race in Budapest.

“His testing results with Mercedes are being suppressed (deliberately) to avoid building up expectations, but any doubts there were seem to have gone, even if the team keeps saying nothing is yet decided, the soon-to-be 18-year-old is clearly a prodigious talent, who will be a star of the future in F1.”

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

Kimi Antonelli’s brilliant Formula 2 form starting to turn the tide

It would be a stretch to say that Antonelli is suddenly one of the favourites to win the Formula 2 championship this season.

There are still inconsistencies and issues he needs to iron out, although he and teammate Oliver Bearman haven’t been helped by an underperforming PREMA team.

Antonelli’s drive at Silverstone in the Sprint Race to win his first race was brilliant, nailing multiple safety car restarts in tricky conditions.

However, it was the Italian’s win in the Feature Race in Hungary that really stood out.

He nailed the alternate strategy, not getting flustered by a safety car that benefitted those who started on the other tyre compound before taking advantage of a safety car of his own later in the race.

Antonelli would be coming into F1 with a strong car and although expectations won’t be high to begin with, his progression will likely be compared to that of Oscar Piastri.

The Australian is setting a very high bar but Wolff and Mercedes appear to be delighted with the progress the 17-year-old is making.