Alonso to make call on F1 future in ‘the next few weeks’

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Fernando Alonso says he’ll likely make a call on his F1 future in the “next few weeks”, with his decision hinging on his own desire to continue racing beyond the 2024 season and the team he’d potentially compete for.

Alonso's contemplation coincides with a significant driver shuffle across top teams. Lewis Hamilton's surprise move to Ferrari has opened a coveted seat at Mercedes, while the drivers’ market is also monitoring events at Red Bull where Sergio Perez is in the final year of his contract with the team.

Mercedes has set its sights on grooming 17-year-old Italian prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli for a potential promotion to F1.

The young gun has been handed a comprehensive testing programme with the Brackley squad, but Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has made clear that the team will take its time to evaluate its driver options for 2025.

Read also: Alonso hails ‘a good Thursday’, with set-up possibilities quite open

Should Antonelli’s skills require further development, Mercedes might present Alonso with a one-year deal for the 2025 season.

Acknowledging the speculation, Alonso believes he's on Wolff's shortlist as Hamilton’s successor.

"Yeah, because obviously I don't have any contract at the moment,” commented the 42-year-old Aston martin charger. “So it's better to be on those lists than on the other series list, or being on the retirement list!

“But I will make the decision to commit for the future in the next few weeks, or few races. First of all, I need to speak with myself, I need to make a decision. If I personally want to commit for the future.

“Obviously, I need to sacrifice everything else in life to be 100% ready for F1. That will be the decision.”

Asked if he would be ready to commit to a limited one-year deal with Mercedes, Alonso suggested that it was too early to consider such an eventuality.

“I don't know,” he said. “First of all, I need to see if I want to keep racing. As I’ve said I will be egoist if I'm just thinking of renewing a contract and just being an F1 driver, and travel around the world, feel cool.

“But I'm not that type of person. If I commit it's because I truly believe that there is a possibility of winning races.

“I want to be in the simulator, I want to be with the engineers, I want to ask 100% to an organisation that I know for sure that I will give that 100%.

“If not, I will not commit. I don't know for how long and I don't know with whom. So there are many question marks. But this is a second stage. First stage of the future it has to be with my own personal decision.”

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.