Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are two of the three F1 champions currently racing in 2024. Sebastian Vettel had retired at the end of the 2022 season. Who knows, the German might come out of retirement to join Mercedes. It is possible because a fellow German great, Michael Schumacher, has done it in the past. The great Schumacher retired at first, ending his iconic collaboration with Ferrari. Then, he came out of retirement in early 2010, racing for the Silver Arrows. Vettel has often said he likes to follow in his childhood idol and great countrymen’s footsteps.
That’s why he left Red Bull to join Ferrari. Anyway, that’s in the past, and there is no confirmation of Vettel’s return to the sport yet. However, Mercedes is desperate to find a replacement for Lewis Hamilton in 2025. Who’s it going to be? The top two names as the candidate for the replacement of Hamilton are Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Fernando Alonso. Will Mercedes go with the young prodigy or with the oldest champion on the grid? The ball is in their court. But the Spaniard seems to be unsure about replacing his former McLaren teammate in Mercedes next year.
Fernando Alonso Wants To Wait For A Few Races Before Deciding On His F1 Future
There are 13 racers on the grid right now who are without a contract for the next season. Fernando Alonso is one of them. His contract with Aston Martin ends after the 2024 season. Lately, on the opening Grand Prix of 2024 in Bahrain, Alonso finished at P9. The Spaniard is 42 years old. Moreover, in the press conference ahead of the Opening Grand Prix, Alonso mentioned that in a few races, he will decide if he wants to continue his F1 racing career in the future. Then, he can come to a conclusion about accepting the Mercedes seat, which is available as Lewis Hamilton is moving to Ferrari next year.
Moreover, the Aston Martin racer said that among the three world champions, he’s the only one who can join Mercedes in 2025. He said he feels great at the moment. But the F1 calendar is a demanding schedule. Moreover, the 2026 regulations can come up with its own set of challenges. Hence, Alonso feels he will take some races to make up his mind. Moreover, as per Sky Sports, Alonso mentioned that the current F1 GP number is “Well over the limit.”
Mercedes Boss Says They Have Incredibly Interesting Options To Choose From
Needless to say, Fernando Alonso is the most experienced driver on the grid. Hence, Toto Wolff said, as per Sky Sports, that strong candidates will be available for 2025. Even the Mercedes boss wonders what the right direction to go is. What’s the best thing to rely on – Experience or Youth? Focusing on a young racer can be risky as they will have a rookie then.
Moreover, the team can later look at the possibilities from a “Medium to long-term performance perspective.” Lately, Aston Martin F1 team boss Mike Krack admits his wish to keep Alonso and Lance Stroll in 2025 as well. That’s their target. Last year, Alonso had a great start with Aston Martin as he came from Alpine.
Stay tuned with Sports News International for more such updates about your favorite F1 team.
