Toto Wolff considering two paths in Mercedes' 2025 driver decision

With Lewis Hamilton's departure to Ferrari coming up next year, Mercedes is in search of a new teammate for George Russell. 

Wolff revealed that Mercedes could recruit an experienced driver to bolster their push towards the front of the grid or invest heavily in their young talent, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, to accelerate his development.

Mercedes has been linked with names like Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel. 

However, Wolff acknowledges that their ability to attract such seasoned drivers will depend significantly on the team's ability to improve its current pace.

The alternative route, focusing on Antonelli, would provide the young driver with time to acclimatise to the team without immediate pressure to deliver wins. Yet, Wolff remains cautious, recognising that the decision is not straightforward.

"I think you can look at it from various perspectives," said Wolff.

"I believe that we are in a rebuild phase. You need to acknowledge that now three years into these regulations, we have got to do things differently than we've done in the past without throwing overboard what we believe is goodness in the way we operate.

"It could mean putting a young driver in there and giving him an opportunity with less pressure than fighting for victories immediately, or putting a more experienced driver in the car that can help us dig ourselves out of the current performance picture."

The German manufacturer's competitive challenges have added complexity to the decision-making process, with both paths presenting unique opportunities and risks.