F1 News: Former Team Boss Urges Toto Wolff To Hold Of Filling Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes Seat
Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner has advised Mercedes on the timing of their driver selection since the team has an entire F1 season ahead to pick an ideal replacement for Lewis Hamilton.
Key Takeaways:
- Guenther Steiner, former Haas F1 team principal, advises Mercedes to take their time in selecting Lewis Hamilton's replacement, considering they have the entire F1 season ahead.
- Mercedes has ample time and options, including Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez, Esteban Ocon, and Mercedes F2 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
- Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal and CEO, aligns with Steiner's approach, emphasizing the luxury of waiting to make a strategic and informed decision for Hamilton's successor.
The seven-time world champion sent shockwaves across the F1 community by announcing his decision to move to Ferrari next year. As a result, Mercedes declared George Russell as the team's new lead driver.
However, with 13 driver contracts expiring by the end of the 2024 season, Mercedes has plenty of time and choice in hand, which could also be perceived as a challenge. Among the numerous possibilities are figures like Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin, Sergio Perez, Esteban Ocon, Mercedes F2 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and several others.
Toto Wolff revealed recently that Mercedes won't be looking to fill Hamilton's seat in haste. Steiner has now backed the claim, suggesting that he would also do the same if he was in Wolff's place. Speaking to the media, he said:
“I think he’s looking for speed, somebody consistent, but also somebody maybe for the future.
“Toto’s in a very good position, because nothing will move until he moves.
“Obviously they have got the young driver Kimi Antonelli in Formula 2, which he’s a prodigy of Mercedes since, I don’t know how many years.
“Maybe he’s a talent like Max Verstappen, which came out of the old Formula 3 straight into Formula 1. If Kimi can do the same, I think Toto can take the gamble because he’s about the same age.
“Otherwise, he has got older drivers without a contract he can pick from and he’s in no hurry because none of these guys will make a move before that seat is full. Why would they? I would wait. I would do the same as Toto, I would wait!”