Nico Rosberg thinks Mercedes signing 3-win F1 driver ‘doesn’t make sense’

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Nico Rosberg now questions if a potential Lewis Hamilton replacement would ‘make sense’ for Mercedes after the Silver Arrows tabled a contract to the Formula 1 driver.

The Silver Arrows are still seeking their next star driver after Hamilton confirmed that he will be leaving the team. Ferrari announced in February that the 39-year-old had signed a multi-year contract to replace Carlos Sainz. He will move to Maranello following the 2024 season.

Hamilton has been in Brackley since the 2013 season and has since broken many records as a Mercedes icon. The seven-time drivers’ champion has recorded 82 of his 103 Grand Prix wins, 78 of his 104 pole positions and 148 of his 197 podiums since Hamilton left McLaren.

Nico Rosberg feels signing Carlos Sainz ‘doesn’t make sense’ for Mercedes

Mercedes missed out on one possible target to replace Hamilton as Fernando Alonso agreed a new contract with Aston Martin. BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer, Andrew Benson, had reported that Alonso was ‘on the list’ at Mercedes. But Alonso will stay at Aston Martin through 2026.

Another option on the Silver Arrows’ shopping list is the man Hamilton will replace. Formula Uno Analisi Tecnica reports that Mercedes have offered Sainz a single-year contract with the option for 2026. But the 29-year-old is pushing for a two-year deal with an option for a third.

READ MORE: The 5 worst moments of Lewis Hamilton’s career in Formula 1

Mercedes are trying to keep their options open for 2026 to possibly have a seat available for their academy protégé, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The 17-year-old is enjoying his rookie season in FIA F2 this year. So, Rosberg would question Mercedes signing Sainz to replace Hamilton.

“As of now, I would probably take Carlos Sainz,” Rosberg said on Sky Sports F1 (20/4, 07:26). “The problem is that Carlos will want a multi-year contract and that then doesn’t make so much sense from a Mercedes perspective.

“That’s what makes it so difficult. So, that’s why Toto [Wolff] is trying to see how far he can get with Kimi Antonelli.

“[He is] doing more than 20 test days with him, and seeing if he can get him far enough up to speed to take him directly for next year. But it’s a big ask as he hasn’t even proven anything in Formula 2 yet.”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli is six races into his F2 career and is without a podium

Antonelli enjoyed his first test in a Formula 1 car at the Red Bull Ring in Mercedes’ 2021 car. The Silver Arrows are trying to get the Italian used to competitive and modern F1 machinery in case they decide to promote him. He has been in their young driver academy since 2019.

Mercedes have since seen Antonelli move from a trophy-laden go-karting career to a trophy-laden junior single-seater career. He secured a German and Italian Formula 4 double in 2022 and even did the Formula Regional Middle East and European championship double in 2023.

Now, Antonelli is six races into his Formula 2 career and boasts 24 points after registering his best finish yet with P4 in the Feature race at the Australian GP. Sainz, on the other hand, can give Mercedes a three-time Formula 1 Grand Prix winner so far to replace Hamilton in 2025.