Toto Wolff Hints At Lewis Hamilton's Replacement: "In A Few Years"
The world of Formula One may witness a new era as the current comes to an end. The speculation of Lewis Hamilton's departure from Mercedes is rife, and the team is on tenterhooks awaiting the extension of his contract. The thought of a Hamilton-less Mercedes seems almost unimaginable, given the legacy that the Briton has built with the team over the past decade. However, if the rumours are to be believed, we might have to accept this as a reality soon. But Toto Wolff is ready with another driver to take the reigns if this does happen.
The chatter mills have been working overtime, and the latest name to be thrown into the mix is that of Mick Schumacher. The son of the legendary Michael Schumacher and former Haas driver is currently serving as the reserve driver behind George Russell and Hamilton, and has impressed many with his show of talent behind the wheel of the American team.
He may lack experience compared to the likes of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, but with the backing of Toto and the Schumacher name, he certainly seems like a potential contender for the role of Hamilton's successor.
The driver's uncle, Ralph Schumacher, brought this up in a recent column:
“Every team boss will always keep an eye on the top drivers if he fails anything. You have a third test driver, you don’t need one at all.”
Toto Wolff was later asked about this, in which he answered:
“Exactly, a German! It’s not bad at all. The point is, we’ve just been traveling with Lewis for ten years – and nothing will change about that. At some point, in a few years, we’ll look at it.”
The seven-time champion's contract with Mercedes is set to expire at the end of this season, and there has been no official confirmation from his end about a contract extension despite both parties saying they will stay together.
Meanwhile, Mick Schumacher continues to bide his time and hone his skills on the simulator, waiting for the opportunity to shine. Could we be looking at the start of a new era with the German prodigy taking the reins at Mercedes? Only time will tell.