Esteban Ocon can have a role iඣn Mercedes' plan to replace Lewis Hamilton, it has been claimed.

Alpine driver Ocon is a former Mercedes reserve driver aꦉnd retains links to Toto Wolff's team.

Wolff must make the ꦑhuge decision of how to replꦗace Ferrari-bound Hamilton in 2025.

Fernando Alonso and teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli rꦉepresent serious options at op♕posite ends of the age scale.

L'Equipe's Fred Ferret made his prediction on the poꦇdcast: "Ocon or Alonso!

"🥃Because [Ocon] is part of Mercedes' management so he can accept sig🅰ning for just one year.

"Then, in '26, you can put Antonelli🐬 in after he has learned at Williams, or wherever."

Natalie Pinkham thinks that Wolff's decision may be influ🌊enced by the form and leadership qualities shown by George Russell over the next few months.

"It depend🏅sꦡ on how Russell performs this year," she said.

"If Russel🔯l develops into the natural team leader, then they will be happy to bring in a young and inexperienced driver under him, like Antonelli.

"If Russell falters - like we saw in Singapore - and if little mistak🅰es creep in - which I don't think they will, but if they do - then they will be more inclined to go for Fernando, potentially.

"I'd love to see Max Verstappen there!"

The intriguing name which has routinely cropped up is Antonelli, the Mercedes junior who is currently in his rookie 💯F2𝓀 campaign.

The hype around his potential has led Wolff to 🉐publically name him as a star of the future.

But Ferret claimed: "Whatever happ🐻ens next year, I wouldn't betꦰ on Antonelli to Mercedes for '25.

"Like for Ollie Bearman, it's bett💜er for a youngster to learn away from the pressure. Even ܫif Antonelli is the next messiah.

"We only have one Alonso,꧟ one Hamilton, one Verstappen every 10 or 15 years. Don't put pressure on these guys for that.

"Even Max learned in a small team.

"I would b꧒et on one last year for Alonso, or one year for Esteban then see what happens."

The dreadful start that Alpine have maജde in the F1 2024 season means they will lose both Ocon and his teammate Pie♏rre Gasly, Ferret believes.

"Two months ago, I would have said no," he said.

"൲We know that next year's car💮s will be the same as this year's so we know who will finish first and last.

"All these people are leaving Alpine but you can't seಌe the team be back on track, in a nice position, before 2026 at [the earliest]."