The Likely Candidate for Lewis Hamilton’s Potential Mercedes Replacement, an “Open Secret” in F1 Circles

Charles Leclerc has reportedly been in talks with Mercedes, leading to speculation of a potential driver swap between the Ferrari and Mercedes teams, with Lewis Hamilton as the key figure. However, respected Italian journalist Leo Turrini has poured cold water on the idea, stating that even Max Verstappen “wouldn’t make it” in Ferrari’s current state.

Despite Ferrari and Mercedes struggling to challenge Red Bull this season, both Leclerc and Hamilton are considering their futures. This has led some to suggest that Leclerc could move to Mercedes while Hamilton could switch to Ferrari, which former team owner Eddie Jordan believes could shake things up.

Although Turrini confirms that Leclerc has been speaking with Mercedes, he doesn’t believe that Hamilton would agree to a straight swap with the young Monegasque driver. Turrini claims that Mercedes may be reluctant to pair an unproven driver like George Russell alongside Valtteri Bottas if Hamilton were to retire, which could complicate matters further.

While Hamilton has stated that he still has the ambition to win an eighth World Championship title, the prospect of him moving to Ferrari seems unlikely given the team’s current struggles. Turrini believes that even Verstappen, who is widely considered one of the top drivers in the sport, would struggle to succeed in Ferrari’s current state.

In summary, while Leclerc’s talks with Mercedes have been confirmed, it remains to be seen whether a driver swap involving Hamilton will come to fruition. With Ferrari struggling to compete at the top level, it seems unlikely that Hamilton would be tempted to join the Italian team.