Button reveals top pick as Hamilton's successor at Mercedes

Among the many voices weighing in on who should replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025, Jenson Button has thrown his support behind a familiar face: Fernando Alonso!

F1 pundits have short listed several high-profile drivers, starting with Carlos Sainz, the man Hamilton will replace at Ferrari next season. But Esteban Ocon, whose career is still managed by Mercedes, and Alex Albon have also been singled out as potential front-runners for the coveted seat.

But Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has hinted that he might make a bold choice when the time comes to choose George Russell’s future teammate, suggesting that young gun and F2 charger Andrea Kimi Antonelli could be in the running for the plum drive.

But Button, who raced alongside Alonso at McLaren in 2015 and 2016, expressed his enthusiasm for the F1 veteran’s candidature.

• Read also: Button questions what Mercedes ‘will hold back’ from Hamilton

“I might have a bit of a man crash on my ex-teammate, but I would love to see Fernando Alonso," Button told Sky F1.

“He is 42 now, but the hunger is there. And if the hunger is there, the fitness is there. He drives every day in a go-kart or some sort of race car.

“If he’s there, I think it’d be a cool partnership. I think they’d learn from each other pretty well and work well together.”

As for Hamilton’s unexpected decision to join Ferrari, Button praised his former McLaren’s teammate for his bold career choice.

“For Lewis, this is a brave move, and a lot of respect to him,” Button said.

“He’s not just going to another team, he’s going to Ferrari. He’s going to a team where they speak Italian, a language he doesn’t know, and a language Charles [Leclerc] does know very well.

“This is a biggie. So I’m excited for this and it’s great for F1.”

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