Mercedes to monitor ‘extremely competitive’ F1 driver to replace Lewis Hamilton

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Mercedes will monitor how Daniel Ricciardo performs with Visa Cash App RB in 2024 as the Silver Arrows now try to replace Lewis Hamilton ahead of his switch to Ferrari.

The Brackley squad are on the hunt for George Russell’s next teammate after Hamilton used an option to get out of his contract. Mercedes only gave their two drivers new deals through the 2024 and 2025 seasons last August. But Hamilton saw enough to join Ferrari from 2025.

Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz in Maranello as Ferrari only opted to hand Charles Leclerc a new contract. The Scuderia were in talks with both drivers regarding new deals. But Ferrari president John Elkann quickly moved to sign Hamilton after hearing about his escape clause.

Mercedes will monitor Daniel Ricciardo to replace Lewis Hamilton

Now, Sky Germany reports that Ricciardo is among several drivers Mercedes are considering to replace Hamilton with in 2025. The Silver Arrows will monitor his results with the recently rebranded Visa Cash App RB team – formerly AlphaTauri – during 2024 before they decide.

One factor which may help Ricciardo secure a move from Faenza to Brackley in 2025 is that the 34-year-old already has a very strong relationship with Russell. The Australian is also an eight-time Grand Prix winner, made the podium 32 times and has achieved pole three times.

Ricciardo could also help Mercedes shape the direction of their car development, should the Silver Arrows get the Perth native to replace Hamilton. Visa Cash App RB’s head of trackside engineering, Jonathan Eddolls, lauded the instant feedback he gave upon joining AlphaTauri.

Eddolls told RacingNews365 in September after Ricciardo’s mid-season return to F1: “Pretty much straight away, you could feel the quality of the feedback, not only the feedback on the handling of the car.

“Obviously, he’s got a wealth of experience. He’s driven many different cars and experienced many different ends of the performance spectrum. So, having that feedback on our car was extremely valuable for us.”

Daniel Ricciardo could leave Visa Cash App RB for Red Bull in 2025

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner also called Ricciardo ‘extremely competitive’ whilst their simulator driver during the first half of 2023. The Milton Keynes natives took Ricciardo back to their factor when McLaren decided to terminate his contract after the 2022 season.

Ricciardo broke into F1 with HRT in 2011 before moving to Red Bull’s junior team, Toro Rosso – now Visa Cash App RB – from 2012 to 2013. He then joined Red Bull in 2014 through until 2018, before spells with Renault (2019-2020), McLaren (2021-2022) and AlphaTauri (2023).

McLaren further returned to the top step of the F1 podium for the first time since the 2012 Brazilian GP when Ricciardo won the 2021 Italian GP. But he mainly struggled to get to grips with the front end of the Woking squad’s car and late braking is the Australian’s calling card.

So, the Papaya team parted ways with Ricciardo a year early to bring Oscar Piastri in beside Lando Norris. But Ricciardo returned to F1 with AlphaTauri last July and he showed enough to earn a 2024 contract. Ricciardo is also in the mix for Sergio Perez’s Red Bull seat in 2025.