After the shocking announcement that seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton will not be returning to Mercedes for the 2022 season, speculation has been running rampant about who will fill his seat at the dominant team.

While many fans and experts expected the team to promote one of their junior drivers, such as George Russell or Esteban Ocon, a surprise contender has emerged as the top choice to replace Hamilton. According to insider sources, the team has set their sights on current Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen as their new lead driver.

Verstappen, who has been with Red Bull since 2016, has established himself as one of the top drivers in the sport and is seen as a potential rival to Hamilton’s dominance. The Dutch driver has shown impressive skill and speed on the track, winning multiple races and challenging for the championship in recent years.

The odds of Verstappen making the move to Mercedes have been revealed, with bookmakers placing him as the favorite to join the team at 2/1. This is a significant shift from earlier predictions, which had Russell as the frontrunner for the seat.

If Verstappen does make the move to Mercedes, it would shake up the F1 grid and potentially create a new powerhouse team to challenge Red Bull’s recent dominance. With his fierce competitiveness and driving talent, Verstappen could be the perfect fit to lead the Mercedes team to continued success.

Of course, these are all just rumors at this point, and nothing has been confirmed by Mercedes or Verstappen’s camp. The driver transfer market in F1 is notoriously unpredictable, with last-minute changes and surprises common.

Fans will have to wait and see how the situation unfolds in the coming weeks, as Mercedes looks to secure a replacement for their departing champion. One thing is for sure – whoever takes Hamilton’s place will have big shoes to fill, and the pressure will be on to perform at the highest level in the upcoming season.