Formula 1 News: Wolff Reveals Alonso Rejected Mercedes Interest Prior to Aston Martin Deal
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has disclosed that Fernando Alonso turned down an opportunity to join Mercedes, opting instead to sign a multi-term contract extension with Aston Martin in April. This revelation comes amidst the shock news that Lewis Hamilton may leave Mercedes in 2025, creating a vacant drive at the German marque.
Wolff had previously stated that Mercedes was open to considering various options, including protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, and seasoned champions like Alonso. However, Alonso’s decision to remain with Aston Martin effectively removed him from the conversation.
“Of course, at the beginning of the year we considered the option of Fernando Alonso, but at that time Fernando was not interested in driving for Mercedes,” Wolff explained. “Also, he was offered a long-term contract at Aston Martin. That’s how we perceived it at the time.”
It appears Alonso prioritized his current situation at Aston Martin over the potential prospect of joining Mercedes. This decision came when the team was still struggling with an inconsistent W15 car, but Mercedes has since made significant progress, securing consecutive race victories. In contrast, Aston Martin has regressed into a midfield side.
Wolff praised Alonso’s driving skills, stating that he deserves more than his two Formula 1 titles. However, the Mercedes boss believes Alonso’s career choices have hindered him from achieving greater success.
“I agree with that list,” Wolff said, referring to Max Verstappen’s ranking of the best F1 drivers, which includes Michael Schumacher, Alonso, Hamilton, Ayrton Senna, and Juan Manuel Fangio. “Even if there are drivers in history who have more titles than Fernando. Fernando would have had many more titles if he had managed his career differently.”
Alonso had previously been linked to a Mercedes drive during the team’s dominant period between 2014 and 2020, but the manufacturer never entertained his services. Wolff attributed this to Alonso’s tumultuous season alongside Hamilton at McLaren in 2007 and the Spygate scandal, which effectively closed the door on a potential Mercedes deal.
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