F1 FANS are convinced that they know who will be replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
The British driver will be leaving the Formula 1 team for Ferrari next year.
Hamilton, 39, has been with the Brackley-based team since 2013 but will leave after the 2024 campaign.
Mercedes are now on the lookout for a replacement driver.
The Silver Arrows have been linked with the likes of Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Oscar Piastri and Alexander Albon.
However, Valtteri Bottas has got fans thinking he will be the new driver after a social media post.
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The current Stake F1 team driver posted a snap of him playing darts on Instagram.
His followers were quick to point out that the Finnish ace has tagged the location as Brackley, the town where Mercedes’ operations centre is based in.
Many took to social media to share their theory that Bottas will be lining up alongside George Russell next year.
One fan posted: “Now Bottas is at Brackley. Oh GARD.”
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A second commented: “Bottas babe why are you in Brackley? WHY ARE YOU IN BRACKLEY?”
A third wrote: “Bottas strolling back into Brackley.”
A fourth said: “Bottas arriving back at Brackley to replace Lewis at Mercedes.”
Another joked: “What if Bottas isn’t actually in Brackley and he posted it as a joke.”
Bottas spent four years at Mercedes as Hamilton’s team-mate between 2017 and 2021.
He left the team to join Alfa Romeo after coming second in the driver’s championship twice.
As a result of Hamilton’s move to join Ferrari, the company’s value has skyrocketed to over £3billion.
The Brit released a statement in which he admitted that the move has made him feel a “range of emotions”.
He said: “It’s been a crazy few days which have been filled with a whole range of emotions.
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“But as you all now know, after an incredible 11 years at Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, the time has come for me to start a new chapter in my life and I will be joining Scuderia Ferrari in 2025.
“I feel incredibly fortunate, after achieving things with Mercedes that I could only have dreamed of as a kid, that I now have the chance to fulfil another childhood dream. Driving in Ferrari red.”
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
