It is perhaps the most coveted openly available seat in Formula 1 for several seasons – the one that will be vacated by Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes when he departs for Ferrari at the end of 2024.
Already an appealing seat when Hamilton’s move was first announced, it has perhaps only become more valuable as the season has progressed and the multiple world champions have gradually built themselves back up to being regular race winners again.With Haas confirming Esteban Ocon will join them for 2025, there are now five drivers on the grid who do not currently have a seat for next season confirmed: Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen, Daniel Ricciardo, Logan Sargeant and Zhou Guanyu. While all of them are potential options, there are also plenty of other drivers who are not on the current grid who could well be more attractive.
Mercedes will be hoping – if not expecting – to be a contender for both championship titles into 2025 and certainly beyond. That means whoever they pick will require the skill and mental toughness to compete against the best the sport has to offer at the front of the field. Against the likes of Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and even against George Russell in the second Mercedes car.
Although team principal Toto Wolff’s words and actions over the year so far suggest that there is one particular driver who appears to be the clear favourite for the seat, it’s time to have your say on who you would offer the spare Mercedes seat to in 2025. But first, a quick look at all the potential options…
The established drivers
Three of the most experienced drivers on the current grid are yet to secure a seat for 2025. Of those, Bottas seems to be the most obvious fit, having raced with Mercedes for five consecutive seasons between 2017 and 2021, helping them to the constructors’ championship title every time. Although not on the same level as Hamilton, Bottas showed he was more than capable of beating the best in the field on his day – even if the pressure of being a Mercedes factory driver appeared to take its toll over time.
Magnussen is the final experienced driver, but given how he has been generally outperformed by team mate Nico Hulkenberg at Haas during their time together, that is hardly a great advertisement for any team to decide to bring him on board for 2025 – let alone a team like Mercedes. That leaves the two youngest drivers in Zhou and Sargeant, but neither are demonstrating particularly outstanding qualities this season that would make them seem worthy of such a seat.
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Keeping in the factory
Like all of their main rivals, Mercedes has a pipeline of talent that it nurtures through junior formulae. But there are also some options available to them who already provide services at an F1 level.
Last year’s F2 runner-up Frederik Vesti has been a Mercedes junior for several years and is one of the team’s two reserve drivers. Vesti has already taken part in Friday practice sessions for the team as well as the post-season young drivers test in 2022 and continues to work within the team alongside his endurance racing exploits. Mercedes also have a second reserve in the form of Mick Schumacher, who has two seasons’ worth of experience as a racer with Haas – although the second was rather tumultuous, to say the least.
Aside from these three young drivers, there are two other former Mercedes affiliates who might be worth a consideration. Nyck de Vries is also an experienced driver who Mercedes are very much familiar with. While the 2021 Formula E world champion and 2019 Formula 2 champion has a strong resume, his half-season with AlphaTauri in 2023 did not go the way he or Red Bull had hoped. Hardly the best argument to be given a Mercedes factory drive.
The second alternative is Paul Aron. The driver who has led the F2 standings in his rookie campaign this year for Hitech, Aron is not currently affiliated with an F1 team – but used to be a part of the Mercedes junior programme until the end of last season. Although he has yet to win a race this year, Aron has impressed many with what he has achieved in his first season in the series, especially against very highly rated opposition.
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Other options
There are two other potential options who vary rather dramatically in experience as well as plausibility.
The first being reigning F2 champion Theo Pourchaire. While a Sauber affiliated driver, Pourchaire believes he deserves and opportunity to race in Formula 1 – although Hamilton’s Mercedes seat might just be a bit much to ask. When given the chance to race in IndyCar, however, he has put in a good showing for McLaren this season.
The final option seems the most unlikely, but would be the most seismic of all if it were to happen: Max Verstappen.
The obvious question to ask is ‘why would Verstappen give up what he has at Red Bull for Mercedes?’. Especially as Red Bull have provided him with three championship winning cars and he will likely become a four-time champion this year. However, Red Bull has been undergoing some turbulent times behind the scenes with key technical staff departing and team principal Christian Horner facing allegations about his conduct, which he denies, that have been investigated and dismissed by Red Bull.
As much as Verstappen has reiterated his commitment to the Milton Keynes team, there are reports that he has exit clauses in his contract should certain circumstances come to pass. And beyond 2025, the new power units that will be introduced in 2026 may make Mercedes a more attractive option than Red Bull as it embarks on producing its first power unit designed in-house with the support of Ford.
Leaving Red Bull would certainly be a gamble, no matter how strong Mercedes have been over the last decade. But is the opportunity to replace Hamilton one that even the three-times world champion should jump at?
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You say
Which driver currently unconfirmed for 2025 would you choose to fill Hamilton’s seat? Have your say in this weekend’s poll.
Which driver currently without a confirmed seat for 2025 would you pick to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes?
- Someone else (specify in comments) (9%)
- Zhou Guanyu (1%)
- Frederik Vesti (3%)
- Mick Schumacher (12%)
- Logan Sargeant (1%)
- Daniel Ricciardo (8%)
- Theo Pourchaire (3%)
- Kevin Magnussen (0%)
- Nyck de Vries (0%)
- Valtteri Bottas (15%)
- Paul Aron (2%)
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (47%)
Total Voters: 131
Loading ...But what should Verstappen do? Would it be better to stay where he is and to keep faith in Red Bull into the major regulations changes for 2026, or should he take a gamble and try to escape his Red Bull contract to fill Hamilton’s seat?
Should Max Verstappen try to escape from his Red Bull contract to fill Hamilton's seat at Mercedes in 2025?
- Don't know (7%)
- No (50%)
- Yes (43%)
Total Voters: 122
Loading ...A RaceFans account is required in order to vote. If you do not have one, register an account here or read more about registering here. When this poll is closed the result will be displayed instead of the voting form.
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Debates and polls
- Are you excited for F1’s live 2025 livery launch event?
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- Did the stewards give Verstappen the correct penalties for latest Norris incidents?
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David BR (@david-br)
11th August 2024, 14:39
For Mercedes, I don’t think it’s difficult: Antonelli now (for 2025). Russell is good already, a potential WDC in my view (speed and temperament) so a younger driver makes sense. The bigger question is whether they can or should try to improve further by ‘Maxxing’ out with Max. And vice-versa. I’m not sure, Verstappen Sr would be destabilizing, Russell and Antonelli seems a great lineup and – for Max – it’s uncertain which team will be ahead next year and beyond.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
11th August 2024, 16:47
Russell’s career is over at Mercedes. Toto wants to replace him with Max, he knows it, everyone knows it. For Russell to have faith in Mercedes at this point would be sheer lunacy.
Russell has to be trying for a seat at RBR or McLaren, and hope the opening at RBR if Max jumps, lets him get out of Mercedes without being thrown to some back of the grid team.
David BR (@david-br)
11th August 2024, 17:37
@pcxmac So the idea is Verstappen and someone other than Russell? A straight swap? I find the politics of this a bit bewildering. Red Bull unravel through internecine warfare involving Verstappen Sr, Marko and Horner, leading to loss of their lead designer Newey and, in your scenario, Verstappen Jr and yet Mercedes think it’s a sound idea for their own team to take the Verstappens onboard? Simultaneously Russell proves he can be the lead driver yet Mercedes are willing to unceremoniously dump him in the belief that Max will add even more? If so, what kind of second driver will Mercedes want or will the Verstappens demand? Would Russell be too competitive? Does it fit the Mercedes profile to have a definitively slower second driver? I’d place GR as in the top 5-6 drivers right now, unless RBR can entice one of the McLaren drivers, they should sign Russell for sure. If Verstappen does leave for Mercedes.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
15th August 2024, 18:27
Red Bull unraveling probably has something to do with some toxic relationships with in the team, perhaps stemming directly from Max’s dad, and his handling of things over the last couple of years. Also there is a good chance Max’s dad knew that RBR were ‘cheating’ with their rear brake setup, biasing the brake balance actively to achieve a level of ‘traction control’ through the corners, and when this came out, internally, Max’s dad knew he had to protect his son, and began throwing shade about the team, etc…
RBR are not imploding, but they are suffering from toxicity, and political fallout. And the fact that they probably had to stop ‘cheating’, and all this is being driven in the narrative as RBR is collapsing etc etc, which is fine by guys like Toto and Liberty, because it makes their job of controlling F1 that much easier. A team like RBR who can furnish competitive power units, will eventually unravel the amount of influence and control guys like Toto have, which makes the whole financial house of cards less tenable. THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON AT RBR, its political, its about power and control, and the lengths that some people will go.
Also, I suppose its admirable that Max’s dad is so protective of his son’s success, but he has to let his son grow up and be the man he is meant to be. So hopefully one day soon this kind of happens and Max authors his own success completely, this will help Max in the long run, and legitimize his own self respect, and the respect in turn he shows his competitors, class, etc… One day (fingers crossed).
JMDan
12th August 2024, 12:10
Russell’s career is already over at Mercedes?
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
15th August 2024, 18:20
when your boss is publicly looking to replace you, because lets face it, he says he wants both KA and MV, …. pronouncing it to the world, not only is this massively disrespectful, but its a sign your days are numbered, even if MV goes to Aston, Russell’s place in that team is not good any longer. This is a huge mistake on Toto’s part, the first was inviting Russell over to his ‘house’ and having sessions with him on the couch, in which the impression of favoritism was allowed to set in. … The comments on socials, etc.
This is very unprofessional behavior, and if you respect yourself and your craft, you are obliged to move on, working for people like that is toxic. And counterproductive. If Max leaves RBR, Russell should look there or to McLaren, and make sure he sets the correct tone at which ever team he goes to next, one of professionalism and respect. Russell should show the same level of respect Toto showed to him while publicly looking to replace him, but maybe with more class and subtly.
Ben
12th August 2024, 22:12
I’m sorry, what? When did that become such an incontrovertible fact which ‘everyone’ knows? Why is his career over at Mercedes? What has he done wrong??
notagrumpyfan
11th August 2024, 16:51
Why are people so keen on Antonelli in that seat?
I think that seat is way too big for him to fill right now, and Mercedes needs somebody more experienced to continue their current development and prepare the team for 2026.
Furthermore, I share the hope that Antonelli is a star of the future based on his talent. But let him mature in a small team, or a second year in F2, before putting all that pressure onto him.
JackL
11th August 2024, 17:12
Completely agree. A year or two at a midfield team would be much better. Especially if Mercedes continue to be competitive and possibly compete for a championship next year, itll be a lot to ask of a rookie.
I really think they shouldve taken Sainz. He held his own pretty well against Max, Lando, and Charles. Hes a proven race winner, and doesnt really rock the boat. He gives great feedback and can develop a car. Hes not a generational talent, but they have Antonelli for that, and he couldve done a great job for a few years until Antonelli developed.
MichaelN
11th August 2024, 17:22
Probably because Wolff has all but stated that they want to get him in that car.
That leaves a Russell and Antonelli line-up in 2026, 2027 perhaps at the latest?
Nobody is going to want to be Mercedes’ one-year back-up driver. So why not get it over with? Put the guy in the car, and see how he does. The best drivers always do well from day 1 anyway.
David BR (@david-br)
11th August 2024, 17:39
Exactly.
notagrumpyfan
11th August 2024, 18:07
I didn’t mean Wolff with ‘people’, but racefans who comment here.
A solid, fast, and intelligent driver will suit Mercedes better in 2025 than a rookie. Also it’s better for a young driver to learn and make some mistakes when the team is not fighting for the championships.
Maybe ‘well’, but not ‘well enough’; all the best drivers developed enormously during the first 3-5 years. Most are fast from day one, but also make a lot of rookie mistakes and are often inconsistent.
Hamilton seemed to be one of the exceptions (being worthy of a top team from day one), but even he matured a lot since.
And the real Kimi also appeared to be ready early on, but he proofed to be a true enigma, with extreme highs mixed with disappointing lows, which makes it difficult to draw a development curve of his career.
Nick T.
16th August 2024, 6:01
At this point, it’d be humiliating for Toto if he didn’t put Kimi in the car next season.
Biggsy
11th August 2024, 14:53
In order of preference:
1. Max (if they can get him)
2. Sainz
3. Bottas
They were dumb enough to miss signing Alonso, and were dumb enough to not sign Sainz, so I guess they expect Russel to lead the charge next year, when they will probably have a title-challenging car, in a tight fight. Not sure they are maximizing their chances with their driver choices. They can see on the McLaren’s example that, when it comes to narrow margins, drivers absolutely make a difference. Lando could have been breathing down Verstappen’s neck, if he maximized all of his chances.
If I were expecting to have a front-running car next year, I’d want either Alonso, or Hamilton, or Max. They might end up narrowly missing a title, because their drivers will be first-time title contenders.
Jeanrien (@jeanrien)
11th August 2024, 16:32
I was surprised that they didn’t sign Sainz in the first place, except if the main target is still Verstappen.
Are the rumors about Sainz clause to leave Williams based on him getting the seat if Verstappen doesn’t? In which case, there might be an agreement in place with Williams to replace Sainz with Antonelli. I don’t think any other team could offer that deal which coud explain Sainz motivation.
If that’s the arrangement, I wonder where Antonelli will end up if Verstappen actually goes to Mercedes.
That or they just want to promote Antonelli and are ready to take the risk which would be very commendable as teams have become very conservative with driver picks lately and given too much importance to experience leading to very little rotation. Always nice to see young drivers coming in and trying to convince.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
11th August 2024, 14:59
Danny Ric and Don’t know for me.
I think it would be epic to see Ricciardo sticking an ever improving Merc on the Podium.
Fighting it out with Lewis as Lando picks up the scraps ….. bring it on! ;)
Imre (@f1mre)
11th August 2024, 20:19
Mercedes should build a rocketship to ever see Ricciardo on the podium.
Nick T.
16th August 2024, 5:59
He’d be a good interim solution if they want an extra year for Kimi to develop. There’s not much else out there for a one-year either way. Bottas is the last person I’d put in.
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
11th August 2024, 15:02
Bottas has always been a safe pair of hands. He seems to be in a good place now mentally, and just imagine how hungry he is now for a good car.
GechiChan (@gechichan)
12th August 2024, 11:02
Hail no!!! His driving style is so boring man, like the exact opposite of what he’s been doing marketing wise lately.
I’ve probably watched all his races in F1 and I don’t recall any memorable wheel to wheel action he’s been involved in (except for the one where Russell clipped him at Imola, but Bottas was mostly a traffic cone.)
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
13th August 2024, 21:59
Bottas’s style is in his consistency, much like Vettel’s was. His record at Mercedes is better than Russell’s. Russell needs to calm down if he wants to do better, in my humble opinion.
Nick T.
16th August 2024, 5:59
Consistently disappointing.
Dex
12th August 2024, 13:16
Safe hands? I didn’t know they were looking for a school bus driver. :)
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
13th August 2024, 22:00
They are looking to win a championship, not provide driver’s ed for teenagers.
BLS (@brightlampshade)
11th August 2024, 15:04
They should get Bottas back in for a year, I hear he loves 1 year contracts :D
Long term they’ve got to be looking at Kimi, but I’m sure they’d prefer to put him elsewhere in F1 first. Russel has the speed and is definitely improved on his first year with Mercedes, but I do sometimes feel he’s missing that little bit extra you need in a championship fight. Hopefully we’ll get to see whether I’m wrong soon.
If Max becomes available then it would take a bold man to turn him down. Yes he comes with his own issues but he ain’t half quick!
Dave
11th August 2024, 15:13
I would switch to Merc preferably next year or 2026 – Newey is gone and a lot of other critical RBR employees as well.
The Horner controversy, which is BS in my opinion, will continue also which will no doubt cause more distraction and turmoil.
And 2026 may be even more of a gamble since they will switch to their own engine – to produce a top tier engine coming out of the blocks isn’t a given.
Merc is back on track and will be hard to beat next year if they keep progressing. They have the deepest pockets of any other team including Ferrari and also have the arguably the best engine which gives them a slight advantage over their customer’s (McLaren etc.).
Having said, I feel for RBR as I feel Toto (and Zak) pounced on the Horner controversy and kept it in the limelight. Obviously, Toto is bitter about losing the WDC back in 2020 to Horner especially since it was controversial.
I don’t have skin in the game but hope RBR remains a contender in the coming years but odds may be against VER winning more WDC’s in the future if he stays.
The thing with going to Merc is Max will have to fight hammer and tong against George which may be why he would prefer to stay at RBR. They have shown to hire rear gunners for Max unlike McLaren.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
11th August 2024, 16:52
The best thing that can happen for RBR is that they string Max along enough so that hes still interested in winning races and scoring points for the team. It’s clear all the toxicity and drama coming from his side of the garage, especially last year with Checo and the Verstappen Clan throwing a tantrum because Checo was winning races. AND, get another quality driver like Alonso (pay to break his contract) or Norris. It’s clear Macca want Piastri, and those two drivers are probably the most able to fill his shoes.
All Lando has to do is stop behaving like a child and win for himself, because his team want to play ‘equals’ like Toto does/did, and that stinks of manipulation.
timber
11th August 2024, 22:07
all of assumptions and drivel… can you actually point me to the facts, or are you just spewing your own toxicity? You know that thing you accuse others of.
João
11th August 2024, 15:22
Someone exciting from Indy, like a Scott Mclaughlin for instance.
Glennb
11th August 2024, 23:55
I would love to see Scott test for F1.
Fletch (@fletchuk)
12th August 2024, 15:56
The FIA forbids it :D
JackySteeg (@jackysteeg)
11th August 2024, 15:36
It seems inevitable that Antonelli will get the seat in the next few years, so why wait? It’ll be a bit of a transition, sure, but they’ll have that with any new driver. Even an experienced pair of hands like Bottas is something of an unknown quantity having spent a few years at a lower team. So, yeah, go for Kimi.
That being said, I think yes, Max should force a move through. With Newey leaving and the ongoing power struggle, Red Bull probably won’t reach their recent level of dominance again any time soon. And after (probably) 4 straight championships, maybe he would benefit from a fresh challenge.
Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
11th August 2024, 15:53
For Mercedes it seems like a straight up ‘choice’ between Max and Antonelli. I would back any experienced driver to outscore a rookie in his first season regardless of how good he is, because I think the conditions that historically allowed rookies to hit the ground running no longer exist – i.e. they now have minimal real life testing before the season starts rather than being able to put in hundreds of km beforehand. But I don’t see any of Bottas, Ricciardo or Magnussen outscoring Russel over a season, so really those options are just a stop-gap measure which could potentially make a difference in a close WC battle – a bit of a niche scenario.
Bringing in Antonelli for a season of learning prior to 2026 makes some sense if they believe he is ready. Max would obviously be a massive coup and if he wants to join any team, you just make room for him and worry about the aftermath later. They could find something to do with Antonelli for a year or maybe 2.
As for what Max ‘should’ do, it’s hard to say without seeing more behind the scenes. Redbull should still be competitive in 2025, but I can see them falling off badly with the new power units in 2026, whereas Mercedes is probably a safer bet for those regulations. So 2025 might be Max’s only chance to jump ship, but it would be a gamble as he might lose a shot at the 2025 championship. I’d leave that choice up to him. He could stay at Redbull until the end of 2026 and see the pecking order, and might still be able to force his way into the frontrunning team at that point at the expense of a ‘2nd’ driver.
MichaelN
11th August 2024, 16:30
Verstappen if they can get him.
Antonelli otherwise. Just try it, and then see if he’s worth keeping for 2026. With him being seemingly inevitable, no other driver worth having is going to sign one-year deals.
Jere (@jerejj)
11th August 2024, 16:36
Such a poll is pretty pointless at this point in time anymore with Antonelli all but confirmed to become Hamilton’s direct successor for a while already.
Will Wood (@willwood)
11th August 2024, 16:49
But I’m not asking who Mercedes will pick, I’m asking who you would pick if it was up to you…
David BR (@david-br)
11th August 2024, 17:47
@willwood Not quite! What driver line up should Mercedes go for – including Verstappen as an option – would have been the most open question. I tried to answer that (Russell and Antonelli as the Verstappen entourage would be potentially disruptive). But I get why you separated the questions.
Jere (@jerejj)
11th August 2024, 19:01
Okay, I didn’t quite realize, but Antonelli is still my answer either way, simply for the long-term purpose.
PacificPR (@streydt)
11th August 2024, 17:04
Alex Palou. But maybe he is already otherwise committed…
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
11th August 2024, 17:05
Max won’t leave Red Bull even with the problems they have. He’s still won the majority of races this year – it’s far from a disaster. He’ll have the pick of all drives in 2027 once the rules have settled anyway.
Sainz I assume wants a long term commitment. He’s turning 30 and if he is to have a championship he needs the next team to put him in the right place at the right time. Audi seemed logical to me but I can understand why he has cold feet hearing how poorly it’s run in the background. Williams must give him assurances that he can leave if the Antonelli experiment fails or if Max moves to Ferrari or Mercedes. It’s a hedge.
Antonelli himself looks F1 level to me but not Championship level. He’s well equipped but Mercedes have won 3 of the last 4 races, 15 of the last 20 titles – the expectation will be huge and the pressure intense.
That leaves Valterri by default. I don’t think he’s the outstanding candidate but I think he makes the most sense providing Antonelli is on the grid. I’m not sure where that could be – perhaps Alpine Mercedes? Valterri would give Russell some space and be a reliable, calm yardstick.
Fundamentally, no-one can replace Lewis.
Neil (@neilosjames)
11th August 2024, 17:32
Sainz, if Williams will loan him for an affordable amount and also take Antonelli for a season (lots of ifs, but that’d be my ideal poll answer).
If not, they might as well go with Antonelli. Russell is ready to lead the team and if they can’t park Antonelli at a midfield team, it makes sense to put him in the other seat.
Only Facts!
11th August 2024, 17:43
Hard to believe that Verstappen will stay at Red Bull without Newey and without Honda. There’s a contract, yes, but is there a will to drive in the midfield for two years?
So, he stays one more year at RBR and then ciao.
Who I want to fill that one year gap? Antonelli, definitely.
David
11th August 2024, 19:06
I’ve been really bad at predicting who will sign for who in 2025 so wouldn’t be surprised if I still get this wrong.
Toto seems wary of signing Kimi straight to the main team – obviously he is very keen on his potential but it’s not in his nature to take such a big gamble.
I was fully expecting a one-year contract to go to either Sainz or Ocon. But they have taken long term options elsewhere. Will be fascinating to learn whether there was ever an offer on the table for either of them.
I still can’t work out whether the recent praise of Max is a serious attempt to sign him or just an attempt to unsettle Red Bull further.
Bottas would be a step back at this stage and I don’t think they will sign him even for a short stint.
My money is on Antonelli. It’s against Toto’s instincts but it is the best signing available to him.
montreal95 (@montreal95)
11th August 2024, 20:56
Unless they can somehow poach Verstappen, Antonelli is the only option left for them at this point. They should have put him in a Williams for a couple of years and got Sainz for the meantime but that ship has sailed.
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
11th August 2024, 21:21
Yep, let’s see the Dutch multiple world champion in an ORANGE McLaren!
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
11th August 2024, 21:22
And I’d like to see Sonny Crockett in the Mercedes seat.
Just to repeat, that’s Sonny Crockett…
Chris
11th August 2024, 22:08
I’d really like to see a team take a chance on a female driver. That said they would need to be competitive, but I don’t understand why they physically and mentally couldn’t compete with men.
Having said that perhaps Mercedes isn’t the seat. But whoever does will win huge kudos and sponsorship. And set an example for other female drivers to aspire to.
André
12th August 2024, 0:03
Really, you don’t see why? For the same reason why virtually all other sports are separated by gender. One of the reasons is to ensure fairness, due to the fact that male and female bodies are built differently. I guess you’ve missed the Olympics female boxing controversy.
notagrumpyfan
12th August 2024, 16:32
Really, that’s your answer?
You should check the olympics again and focus on the sport which is most similar to riding something which takes you around a circuit.
Hint: I got this from the horse’s mouth.
Alonslow
12th August 2024, 23:32
Horse events aren’t really a gotcha, for example individual jumping has seen women taking medals, but never the gold, last time a woman got silver was in 1972, and for eventing there are women taking gold but still is very dominated by men of the last 10 olympics only two winners were women.
They do a lot better in dressage which is more skill and grace than physical.
I think a F1 car is more physical than a horse as well so the physical part of the sport may very well be too much, so we may get women drivers eventually but I wouldn’t count on it any time soon, prospects don’t look so good for now.
amped
13th August 2024, 10:39
Name a single female driver even remotely good enough! They are all lightyears away from being a decent F3 driver. F1 teams don’t pick F4 or F3 backmarker drivers for a reason, being female won’t change that.
Until a female drivers gets to F2 on merit & is actually competetive at the top end, then there will be no female F1 drivers.
SteveP
13th August 2024, 18:25
Dunno about the level of male competition in Indy NXT. Are they all lightweights, or is Jamie Chadwick good?
Tess Tickles
11th August 2024, 23:10
Maybe Hamilton will be replaced by… Hamilton.
If Mercedes continue their upward trajectory, they may be the team to beat next year. Is it too late for Lewis to have a change of heart and find an escape clause in his Ferrari contract?
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
12th August 2024, 10:24
Should really be someone like Leclerc (or Verstappen) – a top driver showing signs that a change would do them good. But Toto’s made a right mess of this, and so Antonelli’s his best option. Could be the next Piastri, it’ll be fun finding out.
Craig
12th August 2024, 10:27
I’m amazed people are voting for Bottas to go back there.
We’ve got a yes man in the second Red Bull seat and look how interesting that’s turning out.
Bottas had his chance, he had the best car in F1 five years. Five years! How many drivers in the history of the sport have had that opportunity? And he didn’t have the champion mentality to fight his own corner. Being nice is obviously a commendable trait but it’s not going to win you any titles with Lewis Hamilton as your teammate.
So personally I’d like to see either Kimi Antonelli or Paul Aron get the chance. It would be nice to see a young talent get straight into a decent car for once rather than scraping around in the toilet for years like George had to do.
Mayrton
12th August 2024, 10:35
It would be best for Max to stay at RedBull for 2025. It will be a so so year with an under par car but it will clearly justify him moving on from the team after 2025. In 2026 he should then take a sabbatical year an attempt to win LeMans Meanwhile he can analyse which team has gotten the 2026 regulatory change right. Then drive for them in 2027.
GechiChan (@gechichan)
12th August 2024, 11:06
If Max joins Mercedes from 2025, that will be a memorable season for sure. But he probably won’t leave RBR.
So then either get Werhlein or Mick, but not Kimi Antonelli, who’s too green for such a big team and it might break his wings too soon.
Janith
12th August 2024, 22:06
Red Bull is not that stupid.
GechiChan (@gechichan)
13th August 2024, 13:56
Apparently, Max has some exit clauses that could be triggered unilaterally. If the rumors are true, I’m not sure RedBull has a lot of say in this if Max (and Jos) made the decision to leave.
An Sionnach
12th August 2024, 11:44
Obviously Max if they can get him. If they can’t, I think Lewis would make the perfect replacement. If they haven’t tried to make this happen they should definitely look into it. Might be a bigger story than that time Lewis joined Ferrari.
Mr Squiggle
12th August 2024, 12:51
I don’t think Antonelli is ready for F1… I mean, if Mercedes don’t sign him up, is anyone thinking about putting him in a seat? Is Toto going to lose Antonelli to another team if he leaves him in F2 for another year..
The other question mark over a Russell + Antonelli line-up, is whether Russel is up for the role of wizened, mature veteran next to a young up and coming driver. To my mind, G Russel is still the up and coming driver and needs a veteran as a team mate
I prefer the idea of an experienced driver next to Russell. Bottas (if he would agree to a one-year contract) or Ricciardo, if he has been jettisoned by VCARB.
dutchtreat (@dutchtreat)
12th August 2024, 13:26
I vote for KA to replace LH, nothing wrong with that, he will learn quickly.
Interesting how some people look in Red Bull’s future, no Newey, own engine, turmoil behind the scenes…?
I see a very motivated team, that with Ford’s money can deliver. Very capable design team even without Newey. A good driver in Verstappen, I think they will be contenders in 2026
For me I am looking at Piastri and McLaren, just someone to root for. Very talented and cool as a cucumber.
David BR (@david-br)
12th August 2024, 15:24
@dutchtreat I think the question is how stable Red Bull will be going forward presuming that the issues that led to the infighting at the start of the season haven’t gone away. Plus the rumours of Max switching to Mercedes persist (if he did leave, their potential driver lineup suddenly looks extremely problematic unless there’s a straight swap with Russell or Red Bull can lure away a driver of the level of Leclerc, Piastri or Norris – and arguably none of those are Verstappen level).
Mayrton
13th August 2024, 9:10
It’s all political staging to bring down the top dog. Just like in 2021, narratives are invented to destabilise another team.
David BR (@david-br)
13th August 2024, 12:13
? So Newey leaving was all part of the cunning plan conjured up by other teams?
SteveP
13th August 2024, 18:26
Didn’t you know, AN is a member of the Illuminati and masterminded the whole thing.
Dane
12th August 2024, 15:32
If they wanted an established driver they could’ve easily had Carlos Sainz. He’s no Lewis but he’s reliable and a winner. It seems obvious that’s they want Antonelli in that seat and are just waiting for the moment to announce it.
Bob C.
12th August 2024, 15:58
Purely for my own sake, they should give the seat to Magnussen. Not that he objectively deserves it (he really doesn’t), but simply because I would like to see what he could do in a competetive car. After the shock promise of this debut (remember: a podium in his first race!), his career has been spent driving pretty crappy cars, never to deliver on that promise.
I know that it is not going to happen, that it would be undeserved and a bad decision for the team. Still, I would be curious to see what would happen.
That apart: should have signed Sainz.
Alonslow
12th August 2024, 23:36
I think for Mercedes is a ‘easy’ choice, if Toto can get Max then it’s Max and George, if not, Kimi for the future.
Rahim.RG
13th August 2024, 3:15
I think they need to give Mick one last chance to prove his worth
CarWars (@maxv)
13th August 2024, 12:29
Mick doesnt deserve a Mercedes. Let him show in a Williams first that he is not the crashkid.
Guy Painter
13th August 2024, 8:34
Mick Schumacher has the same poll score as Valtteri Bottas?
That’s hilarious. Still, I suppose they could save some weight by not having to supply his car with brakes. 😄
CarWars (@maxv)
13th August 2024, 12:29
Max likely will stay at Redbull and switch to Aston Martin when contract allows. Honda, Newey, money and great infrastructure being prepared including good expertise engineers. If Honda can get the engine right that is..
Mr M J SHeldrake
15th August 2024, 11:59
Should of jumped at Carlos Sainz