Motor racing-Wolff hints at 'bold' driver choice to replace Hamilton

Liberty Media

02/02/2024 13:44

By Alan Baldwin
       LONDON, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton's decision to
leave Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of the Formula One season
could lead to a bold choice of replacement, team boss Toto Wolff
said on Friday.
    The Austrian told reporters Hamilton's decision had come too
late for them to look at some obvious contenders, with McLaren's
Lando Norris and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc signing new contracts
last month.
    "The timing bit us a bit," he said. "But I always like
change because change provides you the opportunity."
    The open driver market for 2025 still left plenty of
options, with more than half the grid currently out of contract
at the end of 2024.
    Having race winner George Russell under contract also made
the decision on the second seat "much more comfortable" and very
different to 2016, when Nico Rosberg stunned F1 by retiring days
after winning the title for Mercedes.
    "Maybe it's a chance to do something bold," suggested Wolff,
who said Russell had the potential to be the team's next big
driver after "going to-to-toe" with Hamilton.
    "He is of the generation of Lando and Leclerc and some of
the others and I couldn't wish for a (better) new team leader
when Lewis leaves.
    "We have such a solid foundation, such a quick and talented
and intelligent guy in the car that we just need to take the
right choice for the second seat. And that's not something I
want to be rushed in." 
    Wolff said he had yet to decide whether to go for experience
or a rookie. 
    Mercedes have promising 17-year-old Italian Andrea Kimi
Antonelli on their books and he has been touted as one possible
successor but Wolff cautioned against piling pressure on the
youngster when asked whether he might be the bold choice.
    Antonelli has been with Mercedes since he was 11 and has
shone in junior series. He is scheduled to race in Formula Two
this year.
    Wolff said he did not want speculation or rumours to spin
the Italian's mind ahead of the F2 campaign.
    "He's just stepped out of karts a few years ago and he's not
even 18. So I would rather not start any speculation about Kimi
going into Formula One at that stage," he said.

 (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis)
 ((alan.baldwin@thomsonreuters.com; +442075427933;))