{"id":296160,"date":"2023-11-25T09:10:52","date_gmt":"2023-11-25T09:10:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=296160"},"modified":"2023-11-25T09:10:52","modified_gmt":"2023-11-25T09:10:52","slug":"mercedes-have-another-driver-likelier-to-replace-lewis-hamilton-than-vesti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/racing\/f1\/mercedes-have-another-driver-likelier-to-replace-lewis-hamilton-than-vesti\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercedes have another driver likelier to replace Lewis Hamilton than Vesti"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Danish driver Frederik Vesti will step behind the wheel of the W14 once again during FP1 in Abu Dhabi this weekend, but it is a different Mercedes junior driver who is the most likely to succeed in the daunting task of filling Lewis Hamilton\u2019s shoes after retirement – Kimi Antonelli.<\/p>\n

Hamilton will turn 39 before the 2024 F1 season gets underway next spring and while the seven-time world champion has signed a new two-year contract extension with Mercedes, age catches up to everybody and his time in the spotlight will soon come to an end.<\/p>\n

Mercedes poured resources into George Russell during his time in Formula 2 and his early F1 career with Williams, and the 25-year-old is still seen as the long-term team leader at Brackley once Hamilton does retire, but aside from him, the team\u2019s talent pipeline is running thin.<\/p>\n

Mick Schumacher was brought on board after his departure from Haas in 2022 following a couple of disappointing seasons upon his graduation from F2. However, he has signed on to Alpine\u2019s World Endurance Championship program for next year, all but ending his hopes of a full-time return to the F1 grid.<\/p>\n

Instead, Mercedes\u2019 short-term attention has turned to Vesti, who featured in FP1 for the team in Mexico last month alongside a host of other rookies, impressing team principal Toto Wolff with his steady performance behind the wheel.<\/p>\n

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The 21-year-old Dane will get another chance to drive for Mercedes in Abu Dhabi this weekend, completing the team\u2019s young driver FP1 responsibilities for 2023 by replacing Hamilton during Friday\u2019s first session.<\/p>\n

Despite this mileage, it remains to be seen whether Vesti has the credentials and backing to make the step onto the F1 grid full-time. He still has a shot at beating Sauber junior Theo Pourchaire to the F2 title in Abu Dhabi this weekend, but despite this season\u2019s success, talk of a spot on the 2024 grid has been almost non-existent.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Instead, Mercedes\u2019 long-term hopes are pinned on Antonelli. Everything the 17-year-old has touched in his junior career thus far has turned to gold, and the young Italian is making the giant leap from Formula Regional to F2 for 2024.<\/p>\n

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