Fernando Alonso believes he is in a potentially “good position to negotiate” his F1 future, with a possible move to Mercedes in the cards for the Aston Martin driver.
With the 2024 Formula 1 season about to begin this week in Bahrain, one of the biggest storylines remains who will fill Lewis Hamilton’s vacant seat at Mercedes next season.
Alonso, who joined Aston Martin in 2023 with the promise of an ambition project, is currently contracted to the Silverstone-based outfit until the end of 2024 which has sparked speculation about his next move.
At 42, the Spaniard has given no indication that he intends to hang up his helmet. Quite the contrary, with the two-time world champion claiming that he could race on in F1 for many more years given his exceptional level of fitness, a fact he publicly highlighted on the back of a recent “surprising” medical test.
However, Alonso hasn’t explicitly committed to Aston Martin which has fueled speculation that the two-time world champion could be targeting Hamilton’s future vacant seat at Mercedes.
But other contenders remain in the picture, notably Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a rising star and protégé of the Mercedes junior program, who has also garnered significant interest.
Speaking during the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, Alonso acknowledged his strong negotiating position for next year but emphasized his current focus on the upcoming races.
He stressed that his immediate priorities lie in the present, not solely on securing a seat beyond 2024.
“In my case, it's very interesting because I have, I think, a good position to negotiate,” he said. “But I want to at least do the first couple of races without thinking too much.
“I want to see myself into a new season. It's going to be the longest-ever season in Formula 1 [at 24 races].
“I want to change a little bit some of the travel schedule and things to be really efficient this year and arrive with high energy at the end of the year.
“So, a couple of things that are my main focus now are not so much next year.”
Alonso admitted to having been surprised at the unprecedented early start to the driver market frenzy, often referred to as "silly season."
This year, a staggering thirteen drivers, over half the grid, will see their contracts expire at the end of the season, creating a highly dynamic and competitive transfer market.
“It was a surprise,” he said. “I was expecting maybe around summertime to have a little bit of action, but it started really early. There were some leaks.
“Probably [Mercedes and Ferrari] have to announce earlier than expected. So, after that, definitely more action going on.”
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