Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has been facing a tumultuous time recently. After being caught in the midst of controversy surrounding his wife Susie, the Austrian was hit with the shock of his starman Lewis Hamilton switching teams to join bitter rivals Ferrari. He now has the task of finding a suitable replacement for the 7x champion. Now this might come off as a difficult thing to do, but it looks like George Russell is ready to step up.

2024 will be a hot season with many eyes on Russell. He replaced Valtteri Bottas in 2022 for the seat and has made Mercedes his home. Now that Lewis Hamilton is set to leave the team, Martin Brundle, the ex-Formula 1 racer and now commentator, told Sky Sports News that he believes, Russell is ready to “take the mantle at Mercedes Benz”

Martin Brundle puts his faith in George Russell

In a recent interview on Sky Sports, Martin Brundle shared his insights regarding the impending departure of Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes to Ferrari. Brundle explained his belief that George Russell is well-prepared to fill in the shoes of Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025. He pointed out, “Mercedes have George Russell, what a brilliant young talent he is, and he’s really ready for the future.” This just shows how much confidence Brundle has in Russell to vouch for him.

Brundle continued to affirm his trust in Russell as he stated, “He’s measured himself against statistically and arguably the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time.” While discussing Russell’s skills behind the wheel compared to Hamilton, Brundle stated, “If Mercedes have got a championship-winning car this year, who would win? Would it be George or Lewis? I think it’d be really close.” Martin Brundle would like to see Russell take the lead driver role and show that Mercedes has always been a team and Hamilton or not, they will still be competing for the podium.

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Along with fortifying Russell’s talents with Mercedes, Brundle also speculated on potential lineup adjustments. He said, “They can bring somebody else in now whether it’s a [Carlos] Sainz, an [Alex] Albon, they’ve got access to Esteban Ocon, for example.” That being said, Mercedes is yet to make up their mind about who will be taking Lewis Hamilton’s seat.

Who will drive for Mercedes in 2025?

With one seat booked for George Russell, the question of the hour still stands. Who will replace Lewis Hamilton? Although there are quite a few options for Mercedes, there are many factors that play a role in the decision. One is the fact that Toto Wolff has mentioned the importance of finding a driver who is compatible with Russell’s style.

Among the potential candidates is Carlos Sainz, currently with Ferrari for now, who offers a solid track record, and being the person Hamilton replaced, he would be an interesting swap to see. Meanwhile, Mercedes’ junior driver, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, comes as a long-term solution as he has shown impressive performances in lower categories. But the team might be looking for someone with more experience in an F1 car to be able to race Lewis Hamilton.

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Another contender is Alex Albon, currently with Williams with a contract that extends to 2025. But when everything comes at a price, the terms could potentially be negotiated if Mercedes sees him being a viable candidate. Experienced drivers like Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon are also being speculated on taking the seat. Alonso comes with the experience of being a World Champion and with the right car, he might just be the World Champion level driver they need. On the other hand, Ocon comes with a lot of talent that he has shown and proven himself with season after season.

But in the end, the decision for Mercedes remains uncertain. There is a strong chance that Toto Wolff and Co are waiting to notice the fastest drivers in 2024 to bring into their team. Who do you think will take the seat of Lewis Hamilton? Let us know your thoughts below.

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