Oscar Piastri named his pick to replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025.

Oscar Piastri makes BOLD prediction for Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes replacement

Lewis Hamilton‘s shock Ferrari switch has caused chaos in the F1 driver market. Mercedes will need to find a suitable replacement for the seven-time world champion this year. There has been speculation over the potential candidates including 17-year-old Kimi Antonelli. Now, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri has made his prediction about who will be joining the Silver Arrows next season.

Piastri made his F1 debut last season after a controversial contract saga with Alpine.

The Australian driver is no stranger to surprise driver moves as he signed with McLaren at the last moment to replace Daniel Ricciardo. The 22-year-old has learned how one could make their way in the driver market in such situations.

Oscar Piastri gave a brief answer when asked who would replace Lewis Hamilton. The 22-year-old named two-time world champion Fernando Alonso as the successor to the Briton at the Silver Arrows. Alonso has stated his rather strong negotiating position in the driver market as the 42-year-old is the only available F1 world champion for a transfer next year.

Alonso to Mercedes.

Will Fernando Alonso replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes?
Fernando Alonso is the most experienced driver in Formula 1. The 42-year-old has proved that age is just a number as he continues to perform at the top of his game. The Spanish driver’s current contract with Aston Martin expires at the end of this year which could open the door for a potential move to Mercedes.

Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton (via IMAGO)
Alonso might be inclined to take Lewis Hamilton’s seat at Brackley if it allows him to fight for the title in the short term. Moreover, many claim that the 42-year-old could use this as an advantage to demand more money from Lawrence Stroll to extend his contract with the Silverstone-based team. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding any discussions between Fernando Alonso and Mercedes.

The two-time world champion’s manager Flavio Briatore recently met Toto Wolff which sparked rumors about Alonso joining Mercedes. However, the 42-year-old has insisted that he continues to prioritize Aston Martin for now. As such, it remains to be seen if the Spanish driver ends up replacing Lewis Hamilton next year.