The form of George Russell could dictate who Mercedes op🤪t for to replace Lewis Hamilton, according to Sky Sports’ experts.

The crucial decision for Toto Wolff’s🥂 team is who can step into the shoes of seven-time F1 champion Hamilton who will move to Ferrari next season.

Whether Russell is able to out-perform Hamilton in their final season together may hold the kᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚey to the decision.

Teenager Andrꦕea Kimi Antonelli and two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso are two names in the fraꦺme.

“The dust has🔜 settled now,” Simon Lazenby said. “You start thinking what the repercussions are for everybody else.

“That’s what happens with a move like this.

“None of us saw it coming and t💫hat’s the beauty of it.

“It caught us all off guard.

“It asks questions to what might happen, and t🎀he pressure it puts onto A) Charles Leclerc.

“If he was the de facto leader and he is the golden boy of Ferrari for a number of years, all of a sudd⛄en there’s now tജhe spectre of Lewis about to arrive.

“Cꦆan Carlos now flip this situation onto its head, put pressure early onto Leclerc, outshine him, and put himself in the shop window for others.

“I wonder if he may consider 𝔉going back to Red Buౠll.

“For George now? Mercedes and he have 🅺༺a really important first half of the season.

“If he can go toe-to-toe with Lewis and establish himself as the true No1, maybe the𝕴y take a risk with Aℱntonelli.

“If he doesn’t? Does that bring Fernando Alonso more into play?
“There are so many questions that come from it.”

Rachel Brookes added: “Antonelli, I agree. I think he could be the answer to t🌃hat Mercedes seat.

“But he’s still got to r♏ace in Formula 2 this season. Let🌟’s see what happens there.

“Then, if you don’t pick him, is it worth getting Fernando for one ye🔥ar when the en🌼gine regulations are changing again in 2026?

“Who else do you put in that seat?
“My tip would be Lando Norris but it will cost an awful lot to get him𒅌 out of that McLaren contract!”

Lazenby replied: “There𓆏’s an opportunity if we look at this, for 2﷽025.

“Max Verstappen in a Red Bull, Hamilton in a Ferrari, Alonso potentially in a Merce🃏des.

“Or George in a Mercedes and Alonso stays at Aston Martin, and Lando in a McLare👍n.”

Brookes said: ♋“In the last year of regula💫tions when it all gets close, anyway.”

Laze𝐆nby: “We’ve always wanted to see Alonso, Verstappen and Hamilton go toe-to-toe in the top three cars.”

Martin Brundle asked: “When we get toꦓ Silverstone 𓄧2025 will we see a sea of red in the grandstands?”