Nico Rosberg names Mercedes’ ‘most exciting’ Lewis Hamilton replacement who’s not Max Verstappen

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Nico Rosberg has now named the ‘most exciting’ driver Mercedes can sign to replace Lewis Hamilton in 2025, with Toto Wolff accepting Max Verstappen is unlikely to join.

The Silver Arrows are yet to sign a successor for Hamilton after the 39-year-old confirmed he is leaving in February. Hamilton agreed to a multi-year contract with Ferrari and will move to Maranello to replace Carlos Sainz next year. But one seat remains up for grabs in Brackley.

Mercedes have considered various names to replace Hamilton with Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon, Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas touted. Team principal Wolff has also kept a door open for Verstappen with the 26-year-old able to break out of his contract for Red Bull.

Nico Rosberg names Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Mercedes’ ‘most exciting’ option

But while Wolff would love to sign Verstappen, he accepts the Dutchman is unlikely to agree to join Mercedes soon. Wolff has even now told OE24 that ‘there is nothing to suggest’ he is open to leaving Red Bull. He also admits Mercedes are not yet in a position to persuade him.

Instead, Mercedes are expected to promote Andrea Kimi Antonelli from his rookie season in Formula 2 to replace seven-time Formula 1 world champion Hamilton. The Silver Arrows are putting the 17-year-old through his paces with a string of private tests to prepare him for F1.

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

Antonelli is a Mercedes junior driver who Wolff holds in high regard. The Italian has also out-paced George Russell in one test at Silverstone. Now, Rosberg has even named the teenager as the ‘most exciting’ driver Mercedes can target to replace Hamilton if Verstappen says no.

“It’s impossible,” Rosberg said on Sky Sports F1 (20/7, 13:07). “Let’s go with Antonelli as that would be the most exciting one, apart from Verstappen.”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s contract has a 2025 Formula 1 clause

Antonelli is a prodigious talent having shot up the junior ladder to be in the conversation to replace Hamilton. Reports even suggest Antonelli has a clause in his contract with Mercedes that obliges the Silver Arrows to secure him a seat on the Formula 1 grid as quickly as 2025.

But whether Wolff feels the 17-year-old – who turns 18 on the day of the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix – is ready for Formula 1 or not will determine if Antonelli replaces Hamilton. It took the Italian time to adapt to Formula 2 machinery straight from FRECA having skipped Formula 3.

Mercedes secured Antonelli a seat at Prema for 2024 as F2 adopted a new car having won a FRECA double last year in Europe and the Middle East. He also did a Formula 4 double back in 2022 with the German and Italian titles amid Antonelli’s first full season in a single seater.