F1 News: Former Driver Names Possible Lewis Hamilton Replacement After Shock Ferrari Move
Former driver Giancarlo Fisichella has named three potential contenders for Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes seat after he moves to Ferrari next year. The three F1 drivers named are Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, famously known as Kimi Antonelli.
Key Takeaways:
- Former F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella suggests three potential contenders for Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes seat after his move to Ferrari next year: Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo, and young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
- With Hamilton's departure looming, speculation rises over potential replacements, fuelled by the expiration of contracts for thirteen Formula 1 drivers at the end of 2024.
- Among the contenders, Alonso and Ricciardo stand out as experienced options while Antonelli, a promising 17-year-old F2 driver in the Mercedes Junior Academy, also garners attention for a potential F1 entry next year, as hinted by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
As the seven-time world champion spends his final year with the Brackley-based squad, several names have appeared on the radar after his shock Ferrari move announcement. What adds to the speculation is the expiration of thirteen driver contracts toward the end of the 2024 season.
Alonso and Ricciardo are two such drivers who are yet to secure their Formula seat for the future. Their experience and achievements make them suitable candidates, according to Fisichella. Antonelli, the 17-year-old F2 driver, has been with the Mercedes Junior Academy since he was 11. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had hinted at his F1 entry as early as next year.
Mercedes Press Image
Fisichella has expressed a high possibility of any one of the three drivers replacing Hamilton next year. He commented:
"There are a few names on the top of the list for me in terms of Hamilton replacements. It could be Fernando Alonso, it could be Daniel Ricciardo, or maybe Kimi Antonelli.
"They could go for a rookie like Antonelli, but I think taking an experienced driver like Fernando Alonso for one or two years is a good choice.
"He's still really, really quick, he's putting in some of the best performances of his career and he's got a lot of experience.
"Antonelli would have the support of George Russell who has had a few more years in Formula 1, but with Ricciardo, he has a lot of experience.
"He has driven for many years and is now back again. He had the accident so he lost a little bit in terms of performance but if Ricciardo is able to do a lot of testing and driving this year without problems, then he is a good option to take the spot at Mercedes."
Thank you to OCB Scores for setting up this interview.