In your poll, as Mercedes: Carlos Sainz no doubt. But I wonder if he wants to go there and certainly not for just 1 year (for such contract Bottas could be the best option). Please let Kimi Antonelli MATURE more, he has not even won an F2 race nor gotten a pole. 2026 is early enough for Antonelli to come in.
Merc currently reminds me of McLaren in the mid 2010s under Ron Dennis. They need a culture change. Bringing in Kimi this early would upset George, and I think would be a mistake with the regs changing again, as you say. Bottas I think would be a solid foundation for 2025, but bring Kimi in as the reserve and test driver - which would crucially have him very involved in the development of the 2026 car. It looks like Bottas could retire soon of his own free will, and he's pretty marketable, so they could keep him on as a sort of ambassador.
I think what Merc really needs is a TP with a strong engineering background and Toto in a CEO/Zak Brown role, Andrea Stella and Fred Vasseur are some of the greatest TPs in the sport. It feels like the issues at the team has been long-going but that their engine and throwing money at the problem has saved them in their dominance era. I think a new TP and either Kimi (for the potential of a future Max) or Sainz (for the knowledge and experience) would be a good fit for Merc. For 2026 they need to adress the core issues and not just hid behind their former glory if they want back on the top stepp
The Actual Line Ups for 2025 in the Top 4 teams are as follows Mercedes Kimi A. & Kimi R. RedBull Pierre G. & Esteban O. McLaren Fernando A. & Lewis H. Ferrari Sebastian Vettel & Felipe M. (Bonus) Williams (1st Constructers) Logan S. & Nicholas 🐐L. Verstappen Retires :(, and Ocon takes his seat
Maybe Kimi Antonelli won't know how to do anything correctly for The 2025 F1 Season, and does that mean Valtteri Bottas is better to partner George Russell at Mercedes since they have More Experience than him ?
The boardroom in Stuttgart doesn't do "organically", they want a star driver and they want him now. If "journeyman" Carlos Sainz is getting an offer from Mercedes now, he'll probably know that he is just a temporary solution and not the "star driver" Mercedes so desperately wants. So, I believe, Carlos isn't taking his sweet time with putting pen to (Audi) paper while praying for a call from Toto. His preference would be the Red Bull in 2025 if Max decides to pull his exit clause the end of this year. Of course, this gamble end might badly for him, Audi will not wait for him indefinitely. Toto's wet dream is to get Max Verstappen and you can be sure he was offered outrageous money and terms (during their negotiations in Miami), the only thing that's stopping Max is the chance of equaling The Michael's unrivaled "five in a row" with Red Bull in 2025. But should a deal for next season materialize I can see Max partnered with Kimi. What I can't see is Boy George playing much of a role, if any, in Mercedes' plans for the future.
Antonelli doesnt look like a superstar. He looks average, now to mercedes would be his downfall. He could become an oscar piastri with time but now he would just end up like lance stroll who dominated but than jumped to williams
So who would you go with?
In your poll, as Mercedes: Carlos Sainz no doubt. But I wonder if he wants to go there and certainly not for just 1 year (for such contract Bottas could be the best option).
Please let Kimi Antonelli MATURE more, he has not even won an F2 race nor gotten a pole. 2026 is early enough for Antonelli to come in.
@@Torero2901 Valtteri Bottas is better to partner George Russell at Mercedes because they both have More Experience than Kimi Antonelli, right?
Merc currently reminds me of McLaren in the mid 2010s under Ron Dennis. They need a culture change. Bringing in Kimi this early would upset George, and I think would be a mistake with the regs changing again, as you say. Bottas I think would be a solid foundation for 2025, but bring Kimi in as the reserve and test driver - which would crucially have him very involved in the development of the 2026 car. It looks like Bottas could retire soon of his own free will, and he's pretty marketable, so they could keep him on as a sort of ambassador.
I think what Merc really needs is a TP with a strong engineering background and Toto in a CEO/Zak Brown role, Andrea Stella and Fred Vasseur are some of the greatest TPs in the sport. It feels like the issues at the team has been long-going but that their engine and throwing money at the problem has saved them in their dominance era. I think a new TP and either Kimi (for the potential of a future Max) or Sainz (for the knowledge and experience) would be a good fit for Merc. For 2026 they need to adress the core issues and not just hid behind their former glory if they want back on the top stepp
Excellent suggestion about a new TP
The Actual Line Ups for 2025 in the Top 4 teams are as follows
Mercedes
Kimi A. & Kimi R.
RedBull
Pierre G. & Esteban O.
McLaren
Fernando A. & Lewis H.
Ferrari
Sebastian Vettel & Felipe M.
(Bonus)
Williams (1st Constructers)
Logan S. & Nicholas 🐐L.
Verstappen Retires :(, and Ocon takes his seat
Maybe Kimi Antonelli won't know how to do anything correctly for The 2025 F1 Season, and does that mean Valtteri Bottas is better to partner George Russell at Mercedes since they have More Experience than him ?
Mercedes need to groom Antonelli because their cars too need grooming....👍
bearman is much better driver,kimi is overrated
Kimi most likely will flop but give him a shot
Worth a go
The boardroom in Stuttgart doesn't do "organically", they want a star driver and they want him now.
If "journeyman" Carlos Sainz is getting an offer from Mercedes now, he'll probably know that he is just a temporary solution and not the "star driver" Mercedes so desperately wants. So, I believe, Carlos isn't taking his sweet time with putting pen to (Audi) paper while praying for a call from Toto. His preference would be the Red Bull in 2025 if Max decides to pull his exit clause the end of this year. Of course, this gamble end might badly for him, Audi will not wait for him indefinitely.
Toto's wet dream is to get Max Verstappen and you can be sure he was offered outrageous money and terms (during their negotiations in Miami), the only thing that's stopping Max is the chance of equaling The Michael's unrivaled "five in a row" with Red Bull in 2025. But should a deal for next season materialize I can see Max partnered with Kimi. What I can't see is Boy George playing much of a role, if any, in Mercedes' plans for the future.
Antonelli doesnt look like a superstar. He looks average, now to mercedes would be his downfall. He could become an oscar piastri with time but now he would just end up like lance stroll who dominated but than jumped to williams