Lewis Hamilton's departure from Mercedes sent shockwaves through the entire Formula 1 paddock. It marked the end of one of the most successful driver-team partnerships in the history of the sport, one that had delivered multiple Drivers' and Constructors' Championships, and had defined an era. For Hamilton to leave for Ferrari was extraordinary. For Mercedes, it meant starting over.

The empty seat alongside George Russell sparked hundreds of rumors. Names ranging from Carlos Sainz to Max Verstappen were floated as potential candidates for one of the most coveted drives on the grid. The speculation was relentless, the pressure on Toto Wolff enormous.

Among the names discussed, Fernando Alonso emerged as a genuine option. The Spaniard had signed with Aston Martin hoping for a final opportunity to challenge for the World Championship — an opportunity that had not yet materialized. A move to Mercedes would have been a seismic development in the paddock, and as it turns out, the conversation was very real.

Ultimately, Mercedes chose Andrea Kimi Antonelli — a decision that drew significant criticism at the time, given the youth and inexperience of the Italian. A year and a half later, those critics have been largely silenced: Antonelli has three victories in 2026 and currently leads the Drivers' Championship after his triumph at the Miami Grand Prix.

José Manuel Galán, an engineer who was part of the Mercedes setup during this period, told a remarkable story on the podcast Mínimo Común Múltipla that captures the moment perfectly.

"The day Hamilton announced he was going to Ferrari — news was already coming through on Twitter, rumors flying — and then suddenly Toto walks in, calls a full factory meeting, everyone gather round," Galán recalled. "Toto, and this man is a showman, explains how it happened, how he was told. But then he says: now we're thinking about the replacement. He speaks very positively about Kimi Antonelli, but says he wants to know our opinion. He pulls out a list and says: 'I have here a list of all the drivers without a contract for next year. I'm going to start reading names, and raise your hand if you want that driver.' I was completely stunned."

"He starts with some names — Sergio Pérez, Ocon, Kimi Antonelli — nothing. Absolute silence, some discomfort in the room. Then he says Carlos Sainz. He was saving the best for last, I'll tell you that — Sainz had just come off a strong season with Ferrari. Maybe five percent of the room raised their hand. Tentative, but the first time anyone had moved."

"He leaves one name for the very end — really drags it out — and then says: Fernando Alonso. The entire factory... whoosh. Every single hand in the air. It was an extraordinary moment, because we'd spent years before that criticizing Alonso. Working in England, you hear it constantly — 'he's too difficult, too complicated.'

"And then you watch the entire factory eat their words and raise their hands at once. The Mercedes engine factory — the same one that powered McLaren back in 2007. A spectacular moment," Galán said.

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