P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes ‘bitten’ by new Norris, Leclerc F1 contracts in search for Hamilton successor
On Thursday, it was announced that Hamilton will join Ferrari for the 2025 season, which came as a shock to many. This news comes right after Ferrari re-signed Leclerc and McLaren extended Norris’s contract. Mercedes team boss Wolff has downplayed the possibility of pursuing Leclerc and Norris, who were previously seen as potential successors to Hamilton. Wolff admitted that the recent driver market developments have affected Mercedes, but he praised George Russell’s credentials and expressed the need to make the right choice for the second driver seat. He also mentioned that contracts are only as good as the desire of the drivers and teams to race, hinting at unexpected opportunities in the driver market. Wolff sees this situation as an opportunity for Mercedes to be bold with their driver choice and emphasized the importance of junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli focusing on his F2 campaign rather than getting distracted by rumors linking him to the Mercedes seat from 2025.
