Toto Wolff has ‘immense’ Lewis Hamilton replacement in mind for Mercedes’ F1 future

Lewis Hamilton plans to spend at least two more seasons at Mercedes after signing a contract until 2025, but Toto Wolff knows he will eventually have to replace him.

Without a doubt, Mercedes want Lewis Hamilton to race for them forever.

Unfortunately, this will not happen and Toto Wolff knows he will have to find a replacement for the seven-time world champion’s racing shoes. This is no small task for a Mercedes boss or loaner driver.

Hamilton is under contract until the end of 2025 and there is no reason to believe this will be his last F1 contract. The 39-year-old is still going strong and with a variety of factors at play, it’s still too early to name a promising replacement for him.

However, one of the main contenders could be Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The 17-year-old Italian racing star is the head of the Mercedes Driver Academy and is gaining a growing reputation thanks to his outstanding results in the junior category.

His karting and F4 records saw him move quickly through the system. He will compete in Formula 2 this season, skipping Formula 3 and driving a fast car with the Prema team alongside Ferrari professional Oliver Behrman.

This move increased the buzz around the teenager. Mercedes head coach Wolf Antonelli is keen for a successful start but admits his team has some special talent.

“We got Kimmy in 2012 and she was already a great baby,” he said. “You could see the character, he was strong. I had it in the garage and it was very reliable. His karting record was outstanding and if you include him in the junior formula he won every season as a rookie.