F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Mercedes replacement could be shock suspects Martin Brundle

Martin Brundle is a Sky Sports TV pundit — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

Brundle suspects SHOCK F1 star will replace Hamilton at Mercedes

Several drivers are in the running to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes

Tyler Rowlinson

Monday 19 February 2024 17:57

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Martin Brundle has said he believes Esteban Ocon will be on the list of names that Mercedes will consider to replace Lewis Hamilton.

The sensational news that Hamilton will be joining Ferrari in 2025 completely shocked the F1 world and speculation begun to rise as to who would take seven-time champion’s place next year.

With 13 drivers out of contract at the end of the season, the driver market has been sent into chaos as the future of the majority of the grid is uncertain.

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Several names have been mentioned in the running to join Mercedes in 2025, including Fernando Alonso, Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Sebastian Vettel, but Brundle suspects that Ocon will be another driver looked at by the Silver Arrows.

Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes at the end of the season

The driver market is in chaos as several drivers are out of contract in 2024

Martin Brundle has said Esteban Ocon will be on the list of names considered by Mercedes

Ocon backed for Mercedes switch

The Frenchman has connections with the team having been their reserve driver in 2019 following his departure from Racing Point.

Ocon returned to a full racing seat with Renault the following year and has been with the team ever since as they are now known as Alpine.

With the 27-year-old being one of the drivers out of contract in 2024, the F1 pundit has backed him to be in the conversation for Goerge Russell’s next team-mate

Speaking on the Sky F1 Podcast about Mercedes’ potential options, he said: “They can wait and see as you say how [Andrea] Kimi Antonelli goes.

“They’ve got Esteban Ocon I suspect that they want. They’ve got access to Carlos Sainz, maybe Fernando Alonso, they’ve got Mick Schumacher in their gang and any number of other drivers.

“I think they’ll see how this season goes, why do they need to jump now?”