One driver’s chances of racing for Mercedes next year may have suffered after last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, Martin Brundle says.
The Silver Arrows have a vacancy to fill for the 2025 season, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari.
And writing in his post-race column for Sky Sports F1, Brundle suggested that one of the candidates may have hurt his own prospects.
Reports have already linked a number of star drivers with the seat at the Brackley outfit.
Team principal Toto Wolff is dreaming of landing world champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull, and it’s just emerged that he’s ‘increasingly likely’ to join.
At Aston Martin, two-time title winner Fernando Alonso is likely ‘holding out’ for a call from Wolff.
Williams driver Alex Albon has also refused to rule out a move to the German manufacturer.
Elsewhere, there’s a chance that Mercedes promote from within and hand F2 rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli an instant shot.
Martin Brundle says Fernando Alonso may have damaged Mercedes chances
Brundle thinks Alonso may have fallen down Mercedes’ wishlist after contributing to a major repair bill for the team.
The Spaniard received a 20-second penalty after the race when the stewards decided he’d driven in a ‘potentially dangerous manner’ in a battle with George Russell.
Russell was chasing down Alonso for sixth place before crashing out at turn six on the penultimate lap.
The investigation found that the Aston driver had lifted off 100 metres earlier than he had on any other tour of the circuit.
This appeared to catch Russell out before he lost control of his W15 career.
Much as Alonso mounted a ‘saintly’ defence, Brundle says the stewards saw through it.
He wrote: “Alonso popped his saintly halo on and went to see the Race Stewards, explaining how he intended to approach turn six differently for a better exit speed which included decelerating 100 metres earlier, brushing the brake, and even a downshift
“This is what caught Russell out. We’ve seen Alonso do that before in Nurburgring in 2003 against David Coulthard, and he had exactly the same playbook.
“Except this time, it caused a huge amount of costly damage for a team who could well be on his wish list.”
Will Alonso race in F1 next year?
While all the talk is about where Alonso will be racing next year, it’s still unclear whether the 42-year-old will decide to continue in F1.
He’s the oldest driver on the current grid, with Hamilton closest at 39.
Last weekend marked the anniversary of his first-ever pole position at the Malaysian Grand Prix, some 21 years ago.
Aston Martin are still keen to retain him for next year as he approaches the end of his contract.
Team principal Mike Krack said recently that he’d offer the 32-time race-winner an extension in the near future.
Alonso may also have an eye on a possible vacancy at Red Bull, with Sergio Perez out of contract and Verstappen a target for Mercedes.
One journalist thinks Christian Horner will ‘100%’ target the veteran if he loses the reigning champion.
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