Fernando Alonso won’t rule out Mercedes but Aston Martin stay “my first priority”

Fernando Alonso has refused to rule out a switch to Mercedes but insists his “first priority” is to renew with Aston Martin, should he choose to stay in F1 next season.

The two-time world champion, who turns 43 in July, is out of contract at the end of the season and has found himself linked as a possible candidate to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next year.

Alonso says he is feeling “fitter than ever” heading into what will be his 21st F1 campaign but needs to make a call on whether he wants to commit to racing into 2025 and beyond before thinking about which team to drive for.

“If I commit to a project in the future, for the next year or for the next few years, I need to be first ready myself to commit to that,” Alonso explained.

“I will not drive a few more years in Formula 1 just to drive and have fun. I’m not that kind of driver, I’m not that kind of person.

"If I want to keep driving it’s because I know, starting from myself, that I can give 200 percent to the team on and off track, simulator work, marketing work, delivering on track.

“So I’m preparing for that, on the eventuality that I want to keep racing. If I want to keep racing, let’s see what the options are.

“My first priority will be always to sit down and discuss with Aston. They gave me the opportunity last year to join this organisation that I’m very proud to be part of.

“With the new factory and everything going on, there is a great future in this team and I want to explore every possibility to race for many years here.”

Alonso says there has been “nothing at all” in terms of contact with Mercedes since Hamilton’s shock departure was announced.

Asked whether he can rule out moving to Mercedes for 2025, Alonso replied:“I think it’s going to be a question [I get] for the first few months of the year.

“First of all, I need to decide myself what I want to do for the future. If I want to commit my life again for a few more years to this sport which I love.

“I love Formula 1 but generally I love driving. So if it’s not Formula 1 I will find myself happy in any other form of motorsport, and maybe having more time for my private life, which is always very important at this age.

“This is a decision I need to do myself. I need to think and I need to commit to a team eventually and make sure that I understand it will be that team, and 100 percent of my time.

“Once I do that decision, I want to sit with Aston Martin because I would love to continue with this project. I think we did a good step forward in the last year, we built a lot of things together and we have this new facility.

“We have everything to succeed for the future and I trust this project. So that will be my first priority when I say that I want to speak first with Aston Martin because I feel part of this project very much.

“But if we cannot reach an agreement and I want to commit to race in Formula 1, I know that I have a privileged position. I’m probably attractive to other teams. The performance they saw last year, the commitment.

“There are only three world champions on the grid and there is only one available.”

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack said he is “quite confident” about tying Alonso down to a new contract.

“We love Fernando. We have a very good relationship with him, he’s an integral member of the team," he added. 

"We have a relationship based on trust and openness and we would be delighted to continue with Fernando into ’25 and the year after.”