Suggestions for Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at Mercedes hꦡave incꦕluded some of Formula 1’s big names.

Fernando Alonso - and even the retired Sebastian Vettel - have cropᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚped up in conversation for who could replace Ferrari-bound Hamilton.

Tot♒o Wolff was even asked about the fantasy 𝔍signing of Max Verstappen.

But Oscar Piastri, despite a hugely impressive rooke F1 season, has not had much backing until his name🌜 was 🅷mooted on the Sky F1 show.

🐓Natalie Pinkham first tipped her Hamilton repl♎acement: “I’d like to see Alex Albon in there. I think he deserves it.

“Going to Williams was bri♈lliant for his career. It boosted his confidence.

“But now it’s time to take a ste🥂p back to the front of the grid.”

Martin Brundle added: “They will be looking at Fernando Alonso, Albon, don’t forget Esteban Ocon is🍎 within the Mercedes family, kind of on-loan to🍨 Alpine.

“Carlos Sainz has got to be on their list. I think that’s 🦹their shortlist.”

But Karun Chandhok added a name: “I’d like to see🌃 either Sainz or Oscar Piastri.

“We know Oscar has a contract with McLarꦜen. But [his manager] Mark Webber has negotiated plenty of F1 contracts in the past and I’m sure there will be an escape clause somewhere, as we’ve seen with Lewis.

“Oscar’s debut season was brilliant. He had weaknesses in his race pace, no doubt about it, but he has another season to build on 🌼that.

“I think Oscar and G🍃eoꦿrge as a line-up at Mercedes is a good one.”

Pinkham asked: “But if you’re Oscar and Mark, would you go to Mercedes if you’ve seen that Lewis has💛 left?

“And leave McLaren, which may be a better bet?”

Chandhok replied: “It’s whether you think it’s a better bet. With the new engine formula ꦬcoming in 2026, I’d want to go to a works team, as Lewis did in 2014.”

Whoever comes in will be alongside George Russell, wh🎀o delivered Mercedes’ sole grand prix victory of the past two seasons in 2022🦹 in Brazil.

Damon Hill said: “George will be sat there thinking: ‘Now it’s my time, he’s left!🐭’

“He will want to be regarded as the future of the team, as tꦑhe strong hope.

“So whoever comes alongside hi🙈m will have 😼to fit into that.

“The fact that we ar🃏e not thinking that Mercedes h♚ave George there, and will be as strong as ever, just shows the size of the hole that Lewis has left.”

Pinkham had the finalꦅ say: “Alex and George are best mates, remember…”

Williams have already issued a stꦅrong reminder that Albon’s contract r🌠uns until the end of 2025 so he won’t be a free agent who Mercedes can acquire easily.

Alonso, at Aston Martin, 🌼will become a free agent at the end of thi☂s season, however.

It’s a similar story for Sainz at Ferrari. He will be replaced by Hamiltoꦗn next year and is seeking a ne🗹w landing spot.