At the end of the current season, Hamilton will make a dramatic transition to Ferrari, ending an 11-year relationship with Mercedes. His exit presents an alluring opportunity for an aspirational driver to work alongside George Hamilton.
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel retired in 2022 following a two-year tenure at Aston Martin. Although the 36-year-old has not competed in Formula One since then, he has been connected to an unexpected comeback at Mercedes because he is a successful German driver and has a close friendship with Wolff.
But according to German magazine Bild, Wolff is not giving the transfer any thought. Instead, as Mercedes prepares for life without Hamilton, they have a shortlist of three drivers to choose from.
Max Verstappen is the one at the top of the list. Several months ago, Mercedes would have thought the Dutchman was unattainable. This year, he is vying for a record-breaking fourth world title. But Verstappen’s future is uncertain due to an unsettling incident at Red Bull.
The Silver Arrows are apparently also considering driver Kimi Antonelli. The 17-year-old Italian has been with Mercedes’s junior team since 2019 and was promoted to Prema Racing’s Formula Two team this season.
Fernando Alonso, an experienced driver, rounds off the group. The 41-year-old Alonso’s future at Aston Martin is uncertain, and he has been connected to Red Bull’s Sergio Perez position.
The study was released following Wolff’s insistence that Vettel could not be “discounted” as a Mercedes competitor. “I think I have a long-standing friendship with Seb, and we’re chatting about everything,” he stated last week.
