As ‘talks’ confirmed, Mercedes might lure the F1 World Champion out of retirement to take Lewis Hamilton’s seat…

Mercedes has confirmed talks with a former F1 World Champion, indicating the possibility of their return to the sport to replace Lewis Hamilton. This news comes after Hamilton’s announcement that he will be departing Mercedes at the conclusion of the 2024 season to join Ferrari, causing a stir in the F1 community.

After committing to a fresh two-year deal with the Silver Arrows in 2023, the 36-year-old has opted to exercise an available option that permits him to depart a year ahead of schedule. Consequently, the seven-time world champion will conclude his remarkable 25-year partnership with Mercedes, which originated during his early days as a junior driver and when the company served as an engine provider for his initial Formula 1 team, McLaren. Hamilton conveyed his decision through a statement shared on his social media platforms, affirming that the moment has arrived to embrace a different endeavor and confront a fresh challenge.

The memory of taking a leap of faith into the unknown when I initially joined Mercedes in 2013 still lingers within me. Although some individuals may not have comprehended my decision back then, I was justified in making that move, and now I am experiencing that same sensation once again.

I am filled with anticipation to witness the impact I can make in this fresh opportunity and the accomplishments we can achieve together.

Hamilton will be racing alongside Charles Leclerc for the Scuderia, as Carlos Sainz Jr steps aside for him. While there have been speculations about various drivers potentially replacing Hamilton at Mercedes, it appears that an unexpected candidate is also being considered.

Sebastian Vettel, a four-time world champion, decided to retire in 2022. However, there are now rumors suggesting that he might make a remarkable comeback to the grid.

During his time with Red Bull, the German driver secured four F1 World Driver’s Championships. Unfortunately, after facing two disappointing seasons with the Aston Martin team, Vettel chose to end his career.

Toto Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes, has disclosed that he maintains frequent communication with Vettel. This has sparked speculation that negotiations for a potential return are currently taking place.

Earlier this week, Wolff downplayed the possibility of an unexpected comeback for Vettel. In an interview with AMUS, he stated that Vettel had made the decision to no longer race and that their recent conversations did not revolve around Vettel driving for their team in the future.

However, back in September, Vettel himself did not completely rule out a return to Formula 1. When asked about the possibility of following in the footsteps of other world champions who came out of retirement, such as Mansell, Alonso, and Raikkonen, Vettel responded to Sky Sports by saying, “I can’t definitively say no, because you never know.”

Vettel acknowledged that some of these champions might have initially said no to a comeback, but eventually, they all returned to the sport. Therefore, he couldn’t completely exclude the possibility of making a comeback himself.

Vettel’s potential return to the F1 scene has the potential to overshadow Hamilton’s move, making it an even more monumental event in the history of the sport.

A surprising candidate is leading the race to take over Lewis Hamilton’s spot at Mercedes after he moves to Ferrari.

Breaking news on Thursday revealed that Lewis Hamilton will be joining Ferrari starting from the 2025 season, marking the end of his 11-year partnership with Mercedes.

Despite facing disappointing seasons with Mercedes in 2022 and 2023, the significance of Hamilton’s six Formula One World Driver’s Championships with the team makes this transfer potentially the most monumental in the history of the sport.

Hamilton has recently signed a fresh two-year agreement with Mercedes in August. However, on Thursday at 7pm GMT, the team made an announcement stating that Hamilton has chosen to terminate their partnership a year earlier than expected.

As per the Italian outlet Formu1a.uno, it is reported that Hamilton will receive an estimated $100 million annually at Ferrari. This amount includes his salary, sponsorships, image rights, bonuses, and more.

At Ferrari, Hamilton will be teaming up with Charles Leclerc, resulting in Carlos Sainz’s departure from the team after the conclusion of the 2024 season.

Carlos Sainz, the son of renowned rally driver Carlos Sainz Sr, achieved Ferrari’s sole victory in the 2023 season.

After confirming his departure to make room for Hamilton, Sainz expressed his dedication on X: “We still have a long season ahead of us and, as always, I will give my utmost for the team and the tifosi worldwide. Details regarding my future will be disclosed in due time.”

This final statement has ignited speculation about his potential destination, and it seems that Sainz is the frontrunner to replace Hamilton at Mercedes.

According to the odds provided by BonusCodeBets, Sainz Jr is favored at 6/4 to take Hamilton’s place, while Alex Albon has odds of 6/4 to leave Williams Racing for Mercedes.

Fernando Alonso, priced at 5/1, remains an intriguing possibility, especially considering Ferrari is one of the few teams the former World Champion has yet to drive for.

Daniel Ricciardo is listed at odds of 8/1 to potentially replace Lewis Hamilton. The Australian driver currently races alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, but the opportunity to become the lead driver at Mercedes may entice him to make a move. Other drivers mentioned in the odds include Esteban Ocon at 16/1 and young sensation Kimi Antonelli at 25/1. The full list of odds includes several other notable drivers such as Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, Fernando Alonso, and Mick Schumacher, among others.