Lewis Hamilton’s void won’t be filled at Mercedes in 2025

Lewis Hamilton's absence could be felt at Mercedes as the Silver Arrows tries to find its way for the future.

Lewis Hamilton’s void won’t be filled at Mercedes in 2025

Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton (via Planetf1)

Lewis Hamilton decided to leave Mercedes at the end of last year. The British driver went in search of greener pastures at Scuderia Ferrari. Now, the Silver Arrows will try to find a way to fill the void left by the seven-time world champion.

Hamilton was an integral part of Brackley since joining the team in 2013. The 40-year-old played a pivotal role in the team’s dominance in the Turbo hybrid era with six world titles in a span of seven years. However, the ground-effect era exposed chinks in the armor of this successful partnership.

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The seven-time world champion has made his on-track debut for Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season. Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari have taken over the internet with constant updates on social media. On the other hand, Mercedes has gone through a low-key start to 2025.

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George Russell can’t fill in the shoes of Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton’s exit has placed the mantle of team leader on George Russell. The 26-year-old has raced for the Silver Arrows since 2022 and is eager to take this step-up. However, Russell is yet to prove himself as a capable leader for the future of Mercedes.

George Russell and Max Verstappen
George Russell and Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)

This is proved by the fact that the Silver Arrows have continued to keep an eye on Max Verstappen for 2026. As Hamilton’s replacement, 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli will take at least a couple of seasons to become an established driver at the front of the field.

2025 will be a period of transition for Mercedes. Russell and Antonelli will be tasked with match expectations of the team without taking extreme risks. The two drivers will hope to be in race contention at the front this year. However, it is likely that Brackley will place bigger bets on the 2026 rule change.

Lewis Hamilton’s absence will be felt at Mercedes this year. Despite his decline in performance last year, the seven-time world champion played an important role in the team. Now, it depends on how the Silver Arrows will manage its first campaign without the star driver.