Who could replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes?

Hamilton, a seven-time world champion in Formula One, has spent the past decade with Mercedes. This is the second unexpected team switch of his career — his move from his debut team McLaren to Mercedes in 2013 was similarly shocking.

Hamilton's departure leaves an open seat at Mercedes for the end of 2024. With more than half of the F1 grid out of contract at that time, just about anyone could conceivably be hired as his replacement. But who are the most likely figures to partner with George Russell?

Kimi Antonelli: Casual F1 fans may not know Antonelli's name, but they will soon. The 17-year-old prospect has driven for Mercedes' youth team since 2019 and will make his debut in Formula 2 this season. If Antonelli wins F2 — and he is widely predicted to do so — he's a shoo-in for the empty Hamilton seat. He'll be just 18 at the start of his senior Mercedes career — the same age superstar Max Verstappen was when he locked in his future with Red Bull.

But what if Mercedes wants a senior driver instead of a junior one? Enter...

Fernando Alonso: F1's gleeful villain would be a perfect fit for the empty Mercedes seat. He's had a brilliant start to his Aston Martin career but is known to be frustrated with the team's development pace. Mercedes would be a new challenge and a higher-profile brand for the Spanish legend. Mercedes hasn't been without at least one world champion since its F1 return in the early 2010s. Alonso, with his two, would keep that streak alive for another few seasons.

But could Alonso's demands be a problem for Mercedes? If so, the team might consider...

Carlos Sainz: Sainz is the most obvious choice to replace Hamilton. His arrival would mean a straight swap between Mercedes and Ferrari and no hanging empty seats elsewhere in the grid. Sainz is a respected driver with a few race wins under his belt and a bright future. He also brings a savvy team to the table, including his father, motorsport legend and current Dakar Rally champion Carlos Sainz Sr.

But there's one problem for Sainz: he's known to be in contact with Audi about a potential seat in its pending Alfa Romeo takeover. If Sainz chooses Audi over Mercedes, the team might do well to consider...

Alex Albon: Perhaps the most beloved young driver on the grid, Albon came up through Red Bull's youth system and put in a creditable shift as Verstappen's teammate before moving to Williams in 2022. He's been lightning-quick at Williams and has evolved into quite the leader, with team principal James Vowles and teammate Logan Sargeant praising him. Fans have been clamoring for Albon to return to a top team after what many deemed his "unfair" dismissal from Red Bull, and Mercedes could provide that opportunity.

But Albon and Williams are building something special — he may not want to leave the project. If that's the case, Mercedes might have to consider...

Esteban Ocon or Mick Schumacher: Consider them the last resort. Both are former Mercedes youth prospects and managed by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff early on in their careers. That connection gives them a leg up over stronger, more qualified drivers on the grid.

Esteban, however, was soundly beaten by his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly last season, while Mick was dropped from Haas in 2022 after failing to find race-day consistency. Neither driver would excite or inspire the Mercedes fan base, even if both would jump at the opportunity to try.