Pat Symonds backs Mercedes to sign Fernando Alonso to replace Lewis Hamilton in 2025 even though the Aston Martin racer would deal the Silver Arrows a ‘problem’.
Alonso is one of several drivers now on Mercedes’ radar for next year after Hamilton agreed to join Ferrari. The 42-year-old is only under contract with Aston Martin for the 2024 season and is still undecided on his future. Alonso may also be the only realistic champion available.
Hamilton shocked the Formula 1 paddock in February when the 39-year-old broke out of his contract with Mercedes early. The seven-time champion only agreed a new deal last August for 2024 and 2025. But he will replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari in 2025 with a multi-year deal.
Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso is ‘on the list’ at Mercedes
Alonso being out of contract after the 2024 season offers Mercedes an easy route to replace Hamilton with a champion. The Spaniard also ranks seventh all-time for Grand Prix wins (32) to the Briton in first place (103). He has also taken the 15th-most pole positions (22) to date.
Only Hamilton (104), Max Verstappen (35) and Charles Leclerc (23) have taken more poles than Alonso among the current grid. Just Hamilton (197) has also made more podiums than Alonso (106), who ranks in fourth all-time. Verstappen is seventh all-time with 100 podiums.
So, Andrew Benson has reported as ‘a fact’ that Alonso is ‘on the list’ at Mercedes to replace Hamilton. BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer notes that the Silver Arrows team principal, Toto Wolff, is open to the idea of pairing the Spaniard with their other driver, George Russell, next term.
Pat Symonds backs Fernando Alonso to replace Lewis Hamilton
But Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack stated ahead of the Saudi Arabian GP that they will speak to Alonso about his future ‘in the coming weeks’. The Silverstone squad are eager to lock the 2005 and 2006 F1 champion down with fresh terms as he is an ‘exemplary’ racer.
Now, Formula 1 chief technical officer Symonds has weighed in and backs Mercedes to sign Alonso to replace Hamilton. Symonds worked with the Spanish star during his title-winning spell at Renault. So, he knows what Alonso may offer at Mercedes and the associated risks.
“Yep [I would sign him if I was Wolff],” Symonds has told the Beyond The Grid podcast. “I really rate the guy, I think he’s incredibly fast. So, if I was looking for the best result I could get in 2025, who do I need to help me with my brand new 2026 car to a totally new set of regulations, Fernando’s your man. However, then you’re left with a problem.
“You’re left with the problem of George, who’s been there a few years and thinking, ‘Where do I go next?’. Fernando, who, probably at that point, says, ‘Yep, okay, I’ve proven it. It’s time to move on’…
“You really need to make sure you stagger your drivers, you need to make sure that you’ve got a good succession plan. So, I think if I was Toto, I would do it. But I’d be thinking, ‘Okay, well, what’s my next move?’ Because you’ve got to be looking further down the line.”
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