Ever since
Lewis Hamilton announced he was going to leave Mercedes
at the end of the season and
join Ferrari
, question marks have been raised over the seat he will leave vacant. Subsequently, there is also lack of clarity over the future of Carlos Sainz Jr., whose spot Hamilton will take on the 2025 grid.

If that wasn’t enough room for speculation and drama,
Red Bull’s recent controversies
off the track have created doubts over reigning champion Max Verstappen’s future not just in the team but the sport itself.

Who can replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes?

Mercedes boss had named Max Verstappen as his “number one pick”
during an interview with Fox Sports Australia. Though, he stressed, they had more options and would not be rushed into the decision.

“You know, as much as we were taken aback by Lewis’ decision so quickly, now I really want to take my time,” he said.

“We have a slot free, the only one in the top teams, unless Max decides he goes, then the slot is not going to be free with us anymore. There are a few options that are really interesting for us, from the very young super-talent to some of the older ones who are very experienced.”

Wolff detailed that a decision is likely “towards the summer”, making clear “it’s not going to happen in the next few weeks or months or so; I want to continue to monitor the market”.

At the Japanese Grand Prix he reiterated the decision was not made in the dynamic market where many drivers are out of contract by the end of the season. “We haven’t taken the decision yet.

“It’s not something that we plan to do in the next few weeks. The driver market is very dynamic, some of the really good guys they’re about to sign for some of the other teams. We want to continue to have these discussions and keep our options open.

“But at this stage, I think it’s much too early to commit to a driver whether very young or whether very experienced – don’t want to say old, very experienced. The next few months will give us more clues.”

In Melbourne he was asked if the Silver Arrow could go for a youthful prospect, such as junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Wolff opened up further. “I don’t know yet,” he said, having also been queried if that call could come down to how Mercedes’ George Russell performs over the 2024 season. “I think it depends also what Max does.

“We have a young kid that is very promising. I don’t want to put more extra pressure on him but it looks like he can be one of the great ones. But we also don’t want to drown him jumping so quickly in an F1 car, he’s 17.

“There are a few options that we could play with him. Obviously there is Fernando [Alonso], who’s very exciting, Carlos [Sainz], very good, so there are a few ones.”

Mercedes had missed out on signing Verstappen in his junior days. Now, it is an opportunity for the team to complete a full circle. But Wolff maintained it’s not easy.

“We’ve got to look at ourselves and say, ‘What is it we can do with this car?’, then it becomes much easier whoever drives the second car, it becomes much easier for George, because he has the potential of being a world champion.

“It’s much more the team’s problem to solve [the current lack of performance] than really looking for a silver bullet with an amazing driver.”

Mercedes has confirmed to @feeder_series that Kimi Antonelli will test a Formula 1 car for the first time at the Red Bull Ring later this month!

He will drive the Mercedes W12. pic.twitter.com/GyYrSF17nF

— Kimi Antonelli Updates 🇮🇹 (@AndreaKimiNews) April 2, 2024

As per media reports in Britain, Antonelli, 17, is Mercedes’ long-term choice. But the age factor could play a role in bringing him now. Not to forget he’s just getting started in Formula 2.

“He’s been our young boy for a long time and we’re keen to see what he is able to do in a Formula One car,” said Wolff on the Italian youngster.

Antonelli will reportedly get a chance to get into 2021 Mercedes W12 to try and impress the team. He is expected to test Formula 1 machinery at the Red Bull Ring on 16-17 April.

Ahead of the Japanese GP, four-time world champion
Sebastian Vettel suggested he could come out of retirement
having been in talks with Wolff.

“I am speaking to Toto. I don’t know if that qualifies as Mercedes, but about other things,” Vettel, who retired in 2022, told Sky Sports News.

“I’m talking to a lot of people because I know them, but not very specific. I mean obviously it does cross my mind, I do think about it, but it’s not the main thought,” the 36-year-old German added.

“I have three kids at home, it’s busy every day, so there’s a lot of other thoughts I have. There’s ideas that I have.

“Events that I’m planning going forwards, so I did speak to a lot of other team principals as well, and not only about racing. There’s thoughts, but nothing concrete at the minute.”

The German driver, who won his titles with Red Bull from 2010-13, got the backing from both Hamilton and Wolff.

“Sebastian is someone that you can never discount,” said Wolff. “His track record is phenomenal. Sometimes taking a break is also good to re-evaluate what is important for you and find your motivation.”

Hamilton, meanwhile, said, “I think he would be an amazing option for the team,” said Hamilton. “A German driver, multi-world championship-winning driver, and someone who has got amazing values who can continue to take this team forward. I’d love it if he came back.”

Vettel’s potential return was also given a thumbs-up by George Russell, who will remain at Mercedes.

“Sebastian is a great person and he’s a four-time world champion,” said Russell.

“For sure his personality is missed on the grid and I think it’s important that we have the best 20 drivers in the world all competing for race wins and championships.”

Russell added he was “really happy and open to have anybody” as a team-mate.

“Whether it’s a world champion, whether it’s a rookie, it doesn’t change how I go about my business,” he said.

Where is Carlos Sainz headed?

Carlos Sainz will be without a team
with Hamilton joining Ferrari. The Spaniard, who
won the Australian Grand Prix
, is yet to sign a deal but wants his future sorted out “sooner rather than later”.

Sainz said he has been speaking to “pretty much all” the teams in Formula 1 and wants to resolve his future quickly.

“It’s a matter of going more into detail and seeing the more realistic options and what are the best options for me and my future,” he said.

“I don’t have any news for you or nothing to say here today.

“The only thing I would say is that it’s time now to speed up a bit everything and hopefully we can get it sorted out sooner rather than later.”

What happens to Max Verstappen?

Despite being Wolff’s first choice, triple world champion Max Verstappen has repeatedly said he could walk away from the sport when his Red Bull contract expires in 2028, but insisted he was “very happy” at the team.

The Dutchman won the first two races of the season but has endured weeks of off-track turbulence at all-conquering Red Bull.

He suggested in Saudi Arabia last month that
he would consider leaving
if the team parted company with long-term mentor Helmut Marko.

It followed his father
Jos claiming that Red Bull faced being “torn apart”
if team boss Christian Horner remained in his position.

“I’m very happy where I’m at, and we want to keep it that way,” he said ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

But the 26-year-old was less certain when talking about his post-Red Bull future.

“I have a contract with Red Bull until ‘28 — after that, I first want to see if I even want to continue,” he said.

“That’s for me the most important — it’s not so much about where. These kind of things I don’t really think about at the moment.”