Fernando Alonso is taking a cautious approach to his Formula 1 future, indicating that he will wait for “a few races” before making a decision, particularly with ongoing speculation about him potentially replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
Following his ninth-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Alonso, whose contract with Aston Martin expires at the end of this season, finds himself among the 13 drivers without a contract for 2025. Notably, he emphasized his status as one of the three world champions on the grid, alongside Hamilton and Max Verstappen, when discussing the prospect of joining Mercedes.
“I need to first decide if I want to continue racing. I’ll need to assess that over the next few races,” Alonso stated. He also highlighted the demanding nature of the calendar and hinted at the appeal of the new regulations slated for 2026.
Having previously criticized the extensive race calendar, which now stands at a record-breaking 24 events for 2024, Alonso remains a pivotal figure in the driver market. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff acknowledges the depth of options available for 2025 and weighs the balance between experience and youth in driver selection.
Meanwhile, Aston Martin is keen on retaining Alonso and Lance Stroll, with Team Principal Mike Krack expressing the importance of Alonso’s decision and the team’s desire to keep its current drivers. Krack emphasized Alonso’s commitment and assured that the team would benefit from his determination until the end of his career.
