P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Hamilton: Abu Dhabi 2021 not a deterrent for Mercedes in luring Verstappen
Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari at the end of this season opens up a prime seat from 2025 onwards, with Mercedes focusing on grooming Kimi Antonelli for a potential early graduation. One possible scenario is Antonelli arriving in 2026, creating a vacancy for a one-year deal before then, with Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon as possible candidates. Speculation that Max Verstappen might consider leaving Red Bull, potentially eyeing Mercedes due to uncertainty over Red Bull’s power unit in 2026, has stirred up new possibilities. Toto Wolff, Mercedes team boss, who previously tried to sign Verstappen, was seen discussing matters with Verstappen’s father, Jos, in Bahrain. Hamilton acknowledged the possibility of Verstappen joining Mercedes but expressed doubts about the world champion leaving his current team, especially with a contract until 2028, highlighting the competitive landscape in Formula 1. Hamilton also addressed rumors about Adrian Newey, suggesting that while Newey plays a significant role at Red Bull, it’s a team effort, and he refrained from speculating on team movements for the future.
