After an impressive performance at the Japanese Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso hinted that a potential move to Mercedes may not be as appealing as it seems. However, he also indirectly questioned whether staying at Aston Martin would be enticing either. Alonso is a major player in the F1 2025 driver market, but he is not the frontrunner for any available seats except for his current one. Red Bull has at least one seat available, but they have shown more interest in Sergio Perez and former protege Carlos Sainz. There is a possibility of another Red Bull seat if Max Verstappen leaves, but Alonso believes there is zero chance of that happening. Mercedes, assuming they can’t lure Verstappen away, is working hard to prepare Formula 2 driver Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement. Alonso has been considered as a fallback option for Antonelli, but Mercedes is in no hurry to make a decision and is willing to take the risk of losing attractive free agents. Alonso has hinted that being a short-term option for Mercedes is not appealing to him anyway.
Alonso expressed his disappointment that his performance at the Japanese GP would likely be forgotten quickly. He finds it fulfilling to keep racing and had one of his best weekends ever, despite finishing 44 seconds behind the leader. However, he doesn’t find it attractive to stay in a team that is currently behind Mercedes. Alonso believes that the Aston Martin car is faster than the Mercedes W15, but Aston Martin is currently the fifth-best team. He is proud of his performance at Suzuka and feels that the team is executing the races well while others are experimenting with strategies. Alonso acknowledges that there is still room for improvement in terms of pace.
Alonso’s assessment of his weekend is grandiose but not without merit. He appreciates the quality of execution by the Aston Martin race team and gives major props to their pitstops. Although Aston Martin is not the fastest team in terms of pitstop time, their deficit to second place is minimal. Alonso believes that small things here and there are contributing to their results. Ultimately, Alonso, the car, and the race team outperformed Mercedes at Suzuka. Aston Martin deserves credit for consolidating and becoming a genuine alternative to Mercedes in the driver market.
Alonso’s comments about Mercedes should not be taken as a wholehearted show of faith. He believes that the pace of the car is not where they want it to be. Alonso’s decision for 2025 is more about whether to continue racing or not, rather than seeking the best available opportunity. He has won two titles and 32 grands prix, so the lesser results do not matter much to him. However, at 42 years old, Alonso likely does not have many moves left in his career. The difference between finishing fourth-fifth every weekend at Mercedes and fifth-sixth-seventh at Aston Martin is not significant for a driver in Alonso’s position. Aston Martin still wants Alonso to re-commit and is willing to add more to keep him motivated and happy.
Alonso may consider a second foray into post-F1 life if he walks away from Aston Martin. The only option that is a no-brainer above staying with Aston or retiring is joining Red Bull, where he would have a chance to win again. However, there is no indication that Red Bull is interested in Alonso at the moment. Aston Martin faces a battle against the lure of post-F1 life in order to keep Alonso. Based on his tone after the Japanese GP, it is clear that Aston Martin could easily lose that battle.