Mercedes is said to be eyeing three top-tier drivers as potential successors to Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season. Toto Wolff, the team’s principal, is reportedly keen on recruiting Max Verstappen, who currently dominates Formula 1, especially amid growing internal tensions and power struggles at Red Bull.
Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport suggest that the turmoil within Red Bull might lead not only to the departure of their triple world champion but also to key personnel such as Adrian Newey and Pierre Wache. Further reports indicate Ferrari’s interest in recruiting engineers from Red Bull, including David Morgan, responsible for aerodynamic development, Ben Waterhouse, in charge of dynamics, and Alessandro Germani, a lead aerodynamic development engineer.
Meanwhile, Auto Motor und Sport indicates Newey’s dissatisfaction with the Christian Horner scandal and the proposed transition to a hypercar project due to budget constraints.
Wolff’s eagerness to attract Verstappen to Mercedes is evident, although Horner remains doubtful about the possibility of Verstappen leaving. Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher predicts that Verstappen might switch teams but not before the next season, criticizing Horner’s handling of the situation.
After Verstappen, Mercedes seems interested in Kimi Antonelli, a young driver mentored by Wolff, and Fernando Alonso, who has paused negotiations with Aston Martin for 2025. Briatore’s recent meeting with Wolff, along with Alonso’s suggestive photo in Monaco, adds to speculation about Alonso’s future.
There’s speculation about potential driver moves, fueled by representatives of Carlos Sainz seen exiting Mercedes’ hospitality with Wolff while Sainz dealt with illness.
However, concerns about the desirability of Mercedes’ 2025 seat arise, as Wolff acknowledges the car’s weaknesses, particularly in high-speed corners.
Ferrari’s chairman, John Elkann, subtly suggests in Saudi Arabia that Ferrari might need to wait until 2026 to have a genuine chance of surpassing Red Bull, citing an upcoming transition in regulations.
Verstappen’s dominance has led to doubts about the effectiveness of the current regulatory cycle (2022-2025) in fostering closer racing. Aston Martin’s chief, Mike Krack, highlights the unwelcome level of Red Bull’s dominance during this period.
James Vowles, the Williams team boss, offers a different perspective, arguing that the regulations haven’t failed and are an improvement over previous generations of cars. However, he remains skeptical about better racing in 2025, considering ongoing rule deliberations.
