Mercedes will have plenty of drivers on their list when it comes to replacing Lewis Hamilton and one man they’re considering is Fernando Alonso.
The 42-year-old is not only the most experienced man on the Formula 1 grid but also one of the quickest as he proved by regularly finishing on the podium for Aston Martin last season.
Speaking on The Chequered Flag Podcast, BBC Sport journalist Andrew Benson has shared that Mercedes are considering hiring the two-time world champion.
Fernando Alonso on Mercedes’s list to replace Lewis Hamilton
With so many drivers out of contract at the end of 2024, Toto Wolff isn’t going to be short of options when looking to replace Lewis Hamilton.
His move to Ferrari sent shockwaves across the racing world and we now have a 12-month countdown to seeing the 39-year-old in the iconic red car.
Carlos Sainz is the man to miss out on a new deal with Ferrari and he’s been linked with replacing Hamilton at Mercedes.
Martin Brundle has also suggested that Esteban Ocon could be reunited with Mercedes after coming through their driver development programme.
However, Fernando Alonso has emerged as a surprise name on the list of drivers Mercedes could target for next year.
His time with McLaren didn’t go to plan and that was partly down to Mercedes’s involvement with the team.
That was a long time ago though and if Aston Martin can’t develop a race-winning car this year, then one final hurrah with Mercedes may appeal to the Spaniard as he continues to search for win number 33.
The list of potential Hamilton replacements continues to grow
Speaking about who the Silver Arrows are thinking about hiring, Benson said: “I know that [Fernando] Alonso’s on the list. I do, I know that for a fact.
“It’s unbelievable considering what happened between Mercedes and Alonso in 2007 during the Spygate era and there was always this suggestion from Mercedes that we would never touch him with a barge pole.
“But, there’s a new CEO at Mercedes now and they’re a bit in the doo-doo now that [Lewis] Hamilton’s left, so why wouldn’t Alonso be attractive if they need to fill a gap?”
If Alonso does make himself available to Mercedes for 2025, it’s hard to see him not going straight to the top of the list.
He would likely want a contract that took him into the next set of regulations in 2026 and the timing may work well with the expected arrival of Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Alonso has impressed at Aston Martin, with legendary driver Alain Prost hailing his contribution to the team.
He’s still motivated to succeed with the British team and wants to stand on the top step of the podium before teammate Lance Stroll.
However, if Mercedes come calling with a quicker car, it might be hard for him to say no at this stage of his career.
The post ‘Know that for a fact’: BBC journalist says ‘unbelievable’ driver is now on Mercedes’s list for 2025 season appeared first on F1 Oversteer.