Mercedes’ best bet to replace Lewis Hamilton is Lando Norris and they should go all out to make it happen
The seven-time world champion, who turns 38 next month, is about to enter the final year of his current Mercedes contract, though he has recently revealed his 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:intention toꦛ agree a new “multi-year” deal that will𝔉 likely see him race into his early forties.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff plans to 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:start talks with Hamilton🐽 over the winter, and despite a disaꦜppointing and frustrating 2022 season, negotiations are expected to be𝄹 both smooth and swift.
Hamilton has made it clear that after losing a record-breaking eighth world title in controversial circumstances at the168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in a narrow defeat to Red Bull’s 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen, he is determined to win back a historic crown before he finally calls it a day.🍸
Irrespective of the length of what is likely to ♏be his last F1 contract, Me൲rcedes need to start readying themselves for the inevitable post-Hamilton era.
We’ve come up with some candidates likely to be at t𝓀he top of Mercedes’ wish-list…
Lando Norris
168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lando Norris is the perfect🌄 target for Mercedes. He is the most talented and desirable driver yet to land a front-running F1 seat and his stock only continues to sky-rocket with each passing season.
The Briton’s superb displays over his four F1 campaigns - including taking an impressive seventh place in the 2022 world championship - have made him one 🌌of the hottest properties on the grid.
It is no coincidence that McLaren acted with speed to 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:tie him down to a long-term contract earlier this year to ward off interest from potential suitors (168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Red Bull included) in a deal that runs until 2025.
Norris bought into McLaren’s long-term project to return to winn🍨ing ways and is seen as the driver to lead the Woking outfit back to the front of the grid. But a setback in 2022, and the blow of losing influential team principal Andreas Seidl will have come as a disappointment.
The 23-year-old didn’t hide his frustrations at McLaren’s failure to make a significant step forward at the start of F1’s new era, and his head may start to turn if tangible progress is not seen in 2023, especially 𓆉now that Seidl has jumped ship. These are factors that will play into Mercedes’ hands if they do opt to pursue Norris.
A line-up consisting of168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: George Russell and Norris - two of the most exciting young drivers on the grid - would make Merc🐬edes the envy of the pitlane and give them a potentially-championship-winnౠing pairing for the next decade.
At this moment in time, Norris is the candidate who sticks out above the rest. Mercedes should move heaven and earth to🀅 make it happen.
Charles Leclerc
If Ferrari continue to flounder in their quest to win a first world title in 15 years, 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Charles Leclerc might be tempted to look at options elsewhere to achieve his ambition of⛦ becomin༺g an F1 world champion.
Leclerc is out of contract at the end of 2024 and has already found himself linked to Mercedes as a potential replacement for Hamilton, a scenario he has 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:not totally ruled out, despite insisting that racing for Ferrari💖 remains his “dream”.
Along with the likes of Verstappen, Russell, and Norris, Leclerc is viewed as the very best of the crop of rising stars in F1. Leclerc demonstrated his abilities by taking more 🍒poles than any other driver in 2022, and briefly appeared to be in title contention after winning two of the opening three races, before Ferrari’s campaign spectaℱcularly collapsed.
Ferrari’s decision to replace Mattia Binotto with Frederic Vasseur - who has a strong relationship with Leclerc - might be 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:viಞewed as a way of appeasing the Monegasque following a frustrating season, but it remains to be seen if Ferrari c🏅an provide him with what he truly desires.
On🃏e would imagine that🧔 Mercedes are keeping close tabs on the situation.
Max Verstappen
Mercedes, along with the rest of the F1 paddock, have always had their eye on Verstappen. That was why Red Bull wasted no time snapping up the Dutchman in 2014 when he was just 16 years old, and even promised him an F1 race seat at Toro𝓀 Rosso for the following year.
Verstappen’s meteoric rise from boy wonder to two-time world champion has been nothing short of sensational, underlying the potenti🌼al Red Bull spotted i💖n him from such an early age.
Back in 2014, Wolff revealed Mercedes came close to signing Verstappen and admitted he actually advised Max and his father Jos to accept the offer from Red Bull. More recently, Wolff 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:ruled out a swoop for Verstappen - at least while Hamilton is still around.﷽ Perh🅰aps Mercedes would change their stance after Hamilton has retired.
For Red Bull, Verstappen is untouchable. That is highlighted by them offering the 25-year-old their longest-ever F1 deal, reportedly168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: 🌺worth a staggering £200m over five years until 2028.
Given Verstappen has just cruised to his second world title in 12 months, taking a record-breaking 15 wins from 22 races ꦓin the process, something wou🐬ld have to go badly wrong for him to consider leaving a team that is ultimately built around him.
Verstappen may be an unrealistic target, but th🦋at won’t stop Mercedes from trying their luck if they believe he is the blockbuster signing they need to fill the hole left b༺y Hamilton.
Esteban Ocon
Should the above options prove out of reach, a far more attainable alternative could come in the shape of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Esteban Ocon.
Ocon was after all a Mercedes junior and spent the 2019 season a🃏s the team’s reserve driver before rescinding his official ties when he joined Renault - now Alpine - at the start of 2020.
The 26-year-old Frenchman’ജs career has been guided by Wolff, who regards Ocon incredibly highly. Despite becoming a fully-fledged Alpine driver, connections to Mercedes remain.
In June 2021, Ocon signed a 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:bumper three-year contract to keep him at Alpine until at least the end of 2024, but the lu🥂re of driving for Mercedes would mean prizing him away from the French manufacturer shouldn’t be too tricky for the Silver Arrows.
Ocon has done an impressive, underrated job at the improving Alpine and more than held his own against 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Fernando Alonso during their two seasons together as teammates. He is also a grand prix winner, having brilliantly resisted immense pressure from four-time world champion168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Sebastian Vettel for a 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:shock maiden victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.
He may ꦗnot be a headline-grabbing replacement for Hamilton, but Ocon would be a fast and extremely consistent candidate to partner alongside Russell.
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