Lewis Hamilton will move to Ferrari in 2025. Both teams confirmed the deal on Thursday evening. One of the resulting questions: Who will follow the record world champion? One candidate could be Fernando Alonso.
The Lewis Hamilton domino is falling. It has been clear since Thursday evening that the Brit’s surprise move from Mercedes to Ferrari in 2025 is a done deal. Team boss Toto Wolff informed the Mercedes employees on Thursday at their own factory in Brackley. A public confirmation followed in the evening.
After the shock departure, the question arises: Who will replace Hamilton at the Silver Arrows? One candidate could be veteran Fernando Alonso. As Sky reporter Ted Kravitz reported in the English “Sky Sport”, the Spaniard’s camp was in close contact with Toto Wolff on Thursday. The exit? Alonso wants to wait for developments at Aston Martin in 2024 and then decide on a possible step towards the competition.
Mercedes would have to be patient with a possible Alonso coup.
Alonso surprised with Aston Martin
The two-time world champion has been driving for Aston Martin since 2023, replacing Sebastian Vettel, who retired. Last season he caused several exclamation points with a few podium finishes, especially in the first half of the season. However, towards the end of the season, Aston Martin’s success ebbed again. Alonso’s contract with the British runs for “several years”.
The future of Carlos Sainz is also unclear. Unlike his teammate Charles Leclerc, he will have to look for a new team in 2025 and is one of the losers from Hamilton’s change. According to information from the Spanish newspaper “AS”, the Ferrari driver was also considering Audi as an alternative in addition to Mercedes and Aston Martin. The German car manufacturer Audi will enter Formula 1 as a works team from 2026 and will take over the Sauber racing team.