Offer for Spaniard

Toto Wolff confirms Mercedes’ interest in Alonso

Toto Wolff (left) offered Fernando Alonso a contract at the beginning of the year.(Bild: GEPA)

Before Fernando Alonso extended his contract with Aston Martin, he had an offer on the table from Mercedes. Toto Wolff has now confirmed that the Spaniard was considered as a replacement for Hamilton.

The Mercedes team boss told the Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo: "Of course, we considered Fernando as a possible option to succeed Lewis Hamilton at the start of the year. But at that time he was not interested in driving for Mercedes. He also had a long-term contract from Aston Martin, as we understood it at the time."

"Would have won more title races"
Too bad, as Wolff thinks. The Viennese is convinced that a few different decisions would have meant more in the career of the now 42-year-old. "Even if there are drivers in the history of the sport who have won more titles than Fernando, he would have won more title races if he had shaped his career differently," says Wolff.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli(Bild: instagram.com/kimi.antonelli)

Instead of relying on Alonso, the "Silver Arrows" will probably start with youngster Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the future. The 17-year-old Italian is set to follow in the footsteps of Hamilton, who will leave the team for Ferrari at the end of the season.