2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button has called for Mercedes to sign Fernando Alonso for 2025, as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff suddenly finds himself with an empty seat for next year, following last Thursday’s huge announcement that Hamilton is leaving them for Ferrari at the end of 2024.
2024 will be Hamilton’s 12th and final campaign as a Silver Arrows driver, bringing a relationship which started when he was just 13 years old to an end.
The seven-time World Champion has been offered a huge deal to make a dream of his come true and race in the famous red.
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Whilst Hamilton’s career is now sorted until at least the end of 2026 after signing a “multi-year” contract with Ferrari, Wolff has an enormous gap to fill.
Wolff needs to sign a very special driver to replace Hamilton, given the hole the 103-time World Champion is leaving.
Mercedes do have young sensation Kimi Antonelli available for promotion in 2025, if he gets enough points on his super licence this year in what’ll be his debut Formula 2 campaign.
Antonelli is seen as the next big thing; however, Wolff will want to give the young driver time to develop.
A short-term option could be more suitable then, with Button believing that Alonso is the perfect candidate.
Button’s “man crush” is out of contract at Aston Martin when 2024 concludes, meaning he is currently available for free for 2025.
Alonso is 42 years old but he remains as determined as ever, something he proved last year where he claimed eight podiums.
The Spaniard is also on good terms with George Russell, who he’s been seen partying with before.
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It could be the ideal final swansong for Alonso, especially if Mercedes have a car which can compete for victories next year.
“Alongside George [Russell]? I might have a man crush on my ex-team-mate Fernando Alonso,” Button told the Sky Sports F1 YouTube channel.
“I’d love to see Fernando Alonso. He is 42 now but I think but the hunger is there. If the hunger is there, the fitness is there. He drives every day. He’s driving a go-kart or some form of race kart. If it’s there, I think it’d be a cool partnership. I think they’d learn from each other pretty well and I think they’d work well together.”