Mercedes door all but closed for Carlos Sainz as Toto Wolff set to take call on Lewis Hamilton's replacement: Reports

Mercedes have reportedly decided on Lewis Hamilton's replacement for the 2025 season. As per F1 expert Joe Saward, the Silver Arrows are close to bringing in junior driver Kimi Antonelli to drive alongside George Russell.

Hamilton is set to leave Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of the season. Saward revealed that Toto Wolff and Co. have decided to promote Antonelli to replace Hamilton. The report comes amid Carlos Sainz's swap rumors to the Silver Arrows after he lost his Prancing Horse seat to Hamilton for next season.

Rumors have it that the Spanish driver could be in for a swap deal and replace Hamilton at the Brackley-based team. However, the latest revelation by Saward in his Green Notebook refutes that.

"It is now virtually certain that Mercedes will soon name Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement in 2025," Saward wrote. "In the last couple of weeks, Antonelli has come on strong in Formula 2, winning the Sprint race in Silverstone with aplomb and then driving to an assured victory in the Feature race in Budapest.

"His testing results with Mercedes are being suppressed (deliberately) to avoid building up expectations, but any doubts there were seem to have gone, even if the team keeps saying nothing is yet decided, the soon-to-be 18-year-old is clearly a prodigious talent, who will be a star of the future in F1."

Kimi Antonelli is racing in Formula 2 with Prema Racing. Following his Sprint Race and Feature Race victory at Silverstone and Budapest, he moved to P6 in the Drivers' Championship with 85 points.

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Is there any hope for Carlos Sainz at Mercedes despite Kimi Antonelli's arrival?

Carlos Sainz (right) (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

While Kimi Antonelli is reportedly set for one seat, George Russell's seat could be up for grabs soon, as Mercedes are yet to renew his contract, which expires in 2026. So, does that leave room for Sainz?

"What is interesting is that George Russell does not yet have a contract for 2026. This does not mean that George will be on the move, despite some wild stories about Audi.

"It is safe to assume that Russell will be re-signed, but the team wants to keep some options open, in case Verstappen does come on the market. There is no real hope for Carlos Sainz," Saward unraveled.

Russell has renewed his contract for the 2025 season last year along with Lewis Hamilton. However, the seven-time world champion's decision to move out in February this year changed all dynamics.