The 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:2025 F1 driver line-up is taking shape as ♐the pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place. Here is what we know ꦕabout the latest developments…

Who will replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes?

With 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lewis Hamilton moving from Mercedes to Ferrari at the end o💦f the season, Mercedes have been lef💖t with a difficult decision to make over selecting a replacement for the seven-time world champion.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli is understood to be Mercedes’ first-choice to take Hamilton’s seat, but the highly-rated 17-🅺year-old Italian is only in the early stages of his first Formula 2 season♉.

Ant🐟onelli, who skipped Formula 3 to go straight to F2 after winning the Formula Regional European Championship last year, has also undergone an extensive private F1 te🅷sting programme for Mercedes.

He has already impressed Mercedes, with James Allison describing ༒Antonelli as “very promising” and having “metronomic” 🌟pace.

Antonelli has also been backed by Hamilton. When the Briton was asked whether Carlos Sainz would be the perfect candidate to replace him, he responded: "Honestly, I have no idea what T📖oto's plans are, but for me, taking on a youngster. If it was my job, if it was my role, I would probably take on Kimi."

What will Carlos Sainz do?

💙Sainz appears to be the key to the rest of the driver market at the moment🐠.

The Spaniard has visited ꧒Red Bull and Alpine as he weighs up his options, while he has also been heavily linked to Sauber/Audi.

Sainz is 🔴understood to have been offered a lucrative contract to join Nico Hulkenberg at Sauber next year ahead of the team’s transformation to Audi in 2026. It has been reported t💟hat this option is only on the table until the end of the month.

It is believed that Sainz is holding off making a decision while he evaluates his chances of landing a seat at either Red Bull or Mercedes, before committing t🏅o Sauber.

With Perez appearing to be in a strong position to retain his seat, and Mercedes seemingly favouring Anto♔🐲nelli, there is a risk Sainz could miss out on all three vacancies.

If so, Williams or Alpine cou✃ld be alternatives for the t♉hree-time grand prix winner.

What about Williams?

Witꦐh Alex Albon committing his fut𓄧ure to Williams, attention has turned to the identity of his teammate for 2025.

Williams team principal James Vowles has already admitted Logan Sargeant is “at risk” of losing his drive, with the American 💧under huge scrutiny after a difficult start to his sophomore campaign.

Antonelli could be an option to replace him but only if Mercedes decide against an early promoti♛on to the works team. If Williams were to take Antonelli on an effective loan deal from Mercedes, it is believed they would want him for more than one season.

A𓃲lternatively, Sainz and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, all of whom are out of contract, could become options for Williams.

So too could Valtteri 🌠Bottas, who was tight-lipped🍸 about his visit to the Williams motorhome for a 15-minute meeting with Vowles on Saturday in the Imola paddock.

Meanwhile at Haas, Oliver Bearman is looking increasingly likely to earn a full-time seat with Haas, potentialไly leaving Kevin Magnussen without a drive.