Young or experienced? Who will be the successor to Formula 1 record champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes? In Germany, fans and observers are dreaming of a comeback by Sebastian Vettel if the Silver Arrows prefer a veteran in the car. If you put on the black, red and gold glasses, there would be a better alternative – which hardly anyone is talking about yet.
Okay, Günther Steiner’s dream duo will not drive for Mercedes in 2025. “A combination of Max and Nico wouldn’t be bad,” answered the long-time Haas team boss in an interview with RTL/ntv and before the start of the Formula 1 season sport.de when asked which driver duo he liked best.
But: It cannot be ruled out that at least one of those mentioned will inherit Lewis Hamilton from the Silver Arrows. Verstappen’s departure from Red Bull is still unlikely – the Christian Horner issue or not. But it is no longer unimaginable if the affair surrounding the team boss results in collateral damage.
“Everything is possible,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff in Bahrain as a precautionary measure (and also had a public chat with Verstappen’s father Jos). Red Bull expert Gerhard Berger even sees the series world champion on his way to Mercedes.
Lots of fanfare. The status quo is still: Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until 2028. The Dutchman would also have to do a damn thing to get out of by far the best car and miss out on further World Cup triumphs.
If calm returns to Red Bull and the focus is on sport again, a future in the team is possible even if Horner remains in office, writes “Sport Bild”.
Formula 1: Nico Hülkenberg a candidate at Mercedes?
But what about Steiner’s “Nico”, i.e. Nico Hülkenberg? So far, few have the 36-year-old on the list when it comes to succeeding Hamilton at Mercedes. Fernando Alonso in first place, but Esteban Ocon and Alexander Albon are also repeatedly mentioned as possible candidates. Provided that the Silver Arrows rely on an established driver alongside George Russell in 2025 and not on the talented greenhorn Andrea Kimi Antonelli from their own young talent pool.
Given this situation, some people in Germany are already dreaming of Sebastian Vettel making a comeback. The four-time world champion back in the Mercedes after a break – a “romantic” thought that stimulates the imagination of many fans (and no less experts). As does Mick Schumacher’s involvement in his father’s former colors (which, however, seems extremely unlikely).
But why does hardly anyone talk about Nico Hülkenberg when the Mercedes question comes up? For Günter Steiner, Hülkenberg definitely belongs on the driver list under the heading “Experience”.
“He is certainly a candidate, he shows what he can do,” said the new RTL expert in Bahrain in an interview with “Sky”. Steiner commented on Hülkenberg’s career that his ex-driver was “often in the wrong place at the wrong time” over the past 14 years.
Does the “Hulk” now have a unique opportunity in the late autumn of his career at Mercedes? Why not!
Hülkenberg has “natural” speed: The German proved this not only in his spontaneous appearances during the Corona pandemic, but also in his comeback season last year, when he repeatedly achieved astonishing qualifying results in the defeated Haas.
He also shone in the time hunt at the start of the season: Hülkenberg made it into the final qualifying round in sixth place in Q2. Nobody had previously expected the US team to finish in tenth place. Hülkenberg made it possible. The fact that the race ended early after a collision with Lance Stroll in turn one – bad luck.
Nico Hülkenberg “cheaper” and “more snappy”
If Toto Wolff wants an experienced driver in 2025 and if the hotly-touted old master Fernando Alonso is not available – then Hülkenberg is almost ready for a one to two-year transitional commitment. In any case, he would be a better, because safer, alternative than “shadow man” Vettel.
He assures that he can still imagine a comeback if the desire for Formula 1 returns. But: Even if the four-time world champion is tingling again – desire and grit are two pairs of racing shoes. Wanting something again is different than going through with it unconditionally.
Even in his last Aston Martin years, Vettel no longer seemed motivated to the last curl, not like the uncompromising Seb of earlier days. Would he really be one if he returned to the PS circus? Questionable. But Toto Wolff and Mercedes cannot live with a question mark.
Hülkenberg, on the other hand, has proven with his successful comeback at Haas that he is still completely passionate about Formula 1. “What he brought to Haas was really a step forward. He surprised me positively. I was convinced that he was good, but I didn’t know that he was so committed and could be so fast,” praised Steiner in an interview with RTL/ntv and sport.de.
Hülkenberg gives the engineers excellent feedback on the car’s handling, we hear again and again from the Haas garage. A skill that ex-team boss Steiner also emphasizes – and which will be very important for Mercedes when Hamilton is no longer there.
Is a George Russell enough as a source of ideas and contact for the aero brains in the development hunt for Red Bull? Wouldn’t more input be needed?
Nico Hülkenberg would certainly accept on the spot if Wolff offered him a seat at Mercedes. His contract with Haas expires at the end of the year. Until then he has time to recommend himself. A German driver in a Mercedes? From a purely sporting perspective, there is a lot to be said for Hülkenberg.
The fact that the veteran (current annual salary around two million dollars) would certainly be much cheaper than Mr. Alonso and Vettel – another argument in economically difficult times.
Martin Armbruster