As the season reaches Silverstone, it has been a complete rollercoaster ride for all the teams and drivers. While Red Bull is still on the top, they look beatable for the first time in the past few months. Moreover, the season has been unpredictable and filled with shockwaves. The first shockwave was reverberated by Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari deal. After a decade-long glory, the Briton decided to part ways with the Mercedes team.
Thus, the Silver Arrows, already searching for answers, had another puzzle to solve. The replacement of Lewis Hamilton is not easy to find. Despite his recent slump, the seven-time world champion is a legendary racer. Thus, the team is still exploring options for the 2025 season. The name of Aston Martin’s veteran racer Fernando Alonso has popped out for Mercedes contention. However, Toto Wolff has made a clear statement regarding their future plans.
Toto Wolff Confirms Fernando Alonso Was ‘Never Interested’ In Replacing Lewis Hamilton
As the 2024 season progresses, every F1 aficionado is waiting for an announcement by Mercedes. The team has not yet officially announced the name for their second seat in 2025. While speculations and rumors suggest that the team is grooming Italian prodigy Kimi Antonelli, there has been no official confirmation yet. The fans believe Antonelli might need some more time to get used to the F1 environment. Thus, the Silver Arrows might opt for a stop-gap driver for one year. The options available on the grids were Carlos Sainz, who could have been a swap for Hamilton. However, the team is not in talks with the Spaniard.
However, Toto Wolff revealed in an interview that the German marque was interested in another Spaniard at the start of the season. Wolff confirmed that the team approached Aston Martin’s experienced racer, Fernando Alonso. Subsequently, Alonso turned down the offer and was not interested in driving for Mercedes. The Spaniard joined the Aston Martin squad in 2023 and has recently extended the contract till 2026. While he is the oldest driver on the grid, his racing ability and experience make him an asset for any team.
Further, the Mercedes chief said Fernando Alonso had the potential to win many more titles. Notably, Alonso won two world titles in 2005 and 2006 and has been away from the trophy since then. The Austrian executive believes that with Alonso’s ability and skills, he would have won more trophies if he had managed his career better.
Fernando Alonso Aims For A Better Outing In Silverstone
While Lawrence Stroll is resolute to get the most out of his squad, their recent performance is disappointing. Fernando Alonso finished outside the top 10, and his performance concerns the management.
However, when asked about his recent performance and technical elements, Alonso insisted that the squad would rebound. He deflected the inquiries to the team, arguing it was not his responsibility to address technical issues. Furthermore, the Spaniard stated that he is clear about his strategy and wants his squad to improve in the upcoming Silverstone GP.