Seb Vettel, Carlos Sainz, Kimi Antonelli? This is how you voted if you were Toto... 1. Carlos Sainz 59% 2. Sebastian Vettel 24% 3. Kimi Antonelli 16% Carlos is your favourite here. But I still think he is the least probable of the 3 though. I said Seb at first... But some of your comments made me changed my mind: Eduardo Munoz Torres: Sainz I think is better off at Audi to become the main driver from day one. Seb done his time therefore I would go for Antonelli all the way. Aiden Irving: As much as I would love to see Carlos or Seb in the seat, Toto won’t want to miss out on the “next Verstappen” like he did last time... I would sign Antonelli and write off 2025 as a non-competitive year, let Antonelli get comfortable in F1 and then look to compete for the championship when the 2026 engine regulations come in. Justin Katz: It has to be Kimi. Toto has an opportunity to have one of the next big talents in F1, and I don't think he'll pass it up. Beka Shengelia 🖥️ : Mercedes will never replace Hamilton with a driver Which was ditched by Ferrari to give a seat to Hamilton, it would make a look of Mercedes as a lower level brand than Ferrari, so Seb And someone threw another name on the table: Randall Lashbrook Experience, big name, and still capable of delivering results points to Fernando Alonso stepping in to provide consistency for Mercedes. He placed 6 for Aston Martin at Suzuka 6 April. Kimi will hone his skill in a Mercedes powered Williams and Sainz will help building Aston Martin. Vettel, while an excellent choice, will be heading in a different direction. So says my magic 8 Ball 🎱. ------------ I really appreciate all the comments, so many accurate analysis and different angles... Thank you all for joining the conversation. P.S. Now...Let's wait and see who was right 🙌 #motorsport
Silvia Schweiger
6mo
📌 Great conversation on team mates with insights from the past...thanks Hansika Joon and Lauren Woodward for your perspectives 👏, so valuable and nice to read
Silvia Schweiger
6mo
Randall Lashbrook a 2 years contract for Fernando, for a moment I thought it could be possible as an option in Mercedes...not this time.
You’re forgetting if Red Bull implodes in the wake of the Horner scandal and if Newey leaves to take up a monster contract at Aston Martin ( wonder why Alonso has signed so fast?!?)…. Then Max becomes potentially available. Mercedes have some very deep pockets, they want (& need) to return to the front and want the very best drivers. They’ve lost Lewis in that respect. Seb, great driver though he was at RB, never really reached the heights again and became error prone. I’d be hugely surprised he went to Merc. I suspect they may chuck an enormous deal at Max that will severely test any loyalty to Red Bull esp if Newey leaves. Sainz is the most obvious and easiest choice and that a deal hasn’t been struck already suggests that Merc are hanging out for Max & an unravelling RB situation.
I, personally think that Antonelli is too inexperienced to be in Mercedes next year. He’s 9th in F2 at the moment, and there is a lot of good drivers in F2 that he’s competing with. I could see Antonelli in Mercedes in a couple of years as he has good potential from what I have seen so far in F2, but I think it’s still a long way to go. I don’t know who will get that 2nd seat in 2025, but I don’t think it will be Sainz. I think Sainz will go Audi when they come in ‘26 It would be fun if Mick Schumacher got that 2nd seat, but I don’t think that’s very likely The 2nd seat will remain a mystery for now but there are a lot of options considering half of the grid has contracts that runs out this year😅
Lewis Houghton
6mo
Antonelli could be the next Verstappen, but other rookies have stepped up for F1 and not performed. Piastri and Verstappen are exceptions to the rule and Antonelli could be a risk. For me, Sainz is the way to go, but he has ties to Audi so I reckon he’ll be heading to Aston Martin in preparation for that. Therefore, Alonso to Mercedes and Sainz to Aston Martin..?
I will still stay with Seb, from day one Ham --->> Ferrari was announced i said Seb, and it will be like that I'm sure 😎 people just don't appreciate how big Seb still is. with respect to others, there only two people on Seb lvl currently, Max and Ham, no other one, not even close, and examples like Charles was better at Ferrari, common, really? When you have 4 world titles and you get a car which is not even on top 3, where will you find your motivation? look at Hamilton, he forgot how to drive? or he doesn't have the motivation because the car is nowhere near the front. He will be back and he will prove a lot's of people wrong, my guess is that what makes people say no to his return, because people said he was done, and he had lost, that he was not great enough, and yeah, people including myself hate being proven wrong. That's why people don't want him back, that's how i feel about it.
I was think about Kyle Larson, a talented race car driver known for his success across various racing categories. His performance and achievements certainly make him a compelling choice to fit the bill here. It'll be interesting to see how he performs at the 500 and if he can win such a prestigious race. If he does, Toto should be calling on speed dial.
Virginia Stubbe
6mo
Wait & see! My bet on Alonso has just been cancelled yesterday...
Rumors say that Kimi will replace Sergeant in Williams from August, when he turns 18…