Mercedes have been assessing possible replacements for Lewis Hamilton ever since the winter. The seven-time world champion informed the team in the off-season that he was headed to Ferrari for 2025. In that time, there have been a whole host of drivers linked. Mercedes may not be one of the three teams competing at the front of the grid this year – they’re now 175 points behind Red Bull – but they can still offer one of the most desirable seats in F1. Rumours suggest that the German giants have an early advantage over their competitors with their new-look 2026 engine. The last time we saw regu…