2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[ThijsMuis]

Fernando Alonso in contact with Toto in last few hours apparently

[Bill_Kar]

OTOH, it will be a good opportunity to see who are the real Mercedes fans

I think there will be fan transfers. If Mercedes can bring a world champion, they will get some fans back. However the most fans will go with Hamilton. I like Mercedes a lot more than Ferrari. However for me Hamilton is more important

Good point. I think it is true that many started supporting Mercedes as a side effect of LH, and sure, some of them will depart, but I reckon many will stay after many years of bonding with a very successful team. I'm just curious of the magnitude of the quantitive impact. In my country, Mercedes is the second most popular team after Ferrari, even surpassing Macca, support which will surely take a hit.

[Bill_Kar]

Fernando Alonso in contact with Toto in last 24 hours apparently

Source?

[GoranF1]

Fernando Alonso in contact with Toto in last 24 hours apparently

Source?

Ted Kravitz.

I don't think it will happen. Sainz will swap places whit Hamilton most likely

[DGP123]

Fernando Alonso in contact with Toto in last 24 hours apparently

Source?

Inevitable. They are all in the same boat. Jumping from ship to ship at these ages, desperate for one last title.

Aston Martin won’t challenge next year, so if this is remotely true, he will be off.

[Venturiation]

Fernando Alonso in contact with Toto in last 24 hours apparently

Source?

Ted Kravitz.

I don't think it will happen. Sainz will swap places whit Hamilton most likely

sainz is going to Williams

[f1jcw]

Source?

Ted Kravitz.

I don't think it will happen. Sainz will swap places whit Hamilton most likely

sainz is going to Williams

Williams? wow thats quite a drop. Strange as he isn't a bad driver, he's competed against the best, Max and Charles and wasn't really beaten.

[ThijsMuis]

Ted replies

[Venturiation]

After Mercedes lost Loic Serra, it was he who was decisive for Lewis to move to Ferrari.

More engineers will also accompany Lewis and Serra.

Serra left because he disagreed with Eliott on the W13 and W14 projects

[sypack]

Source?

Ted Kravitz.

I don't think it will happen. Sainz will swap places whit Hamilton most likely

sainz is going to Williams

The tweet litterly says he's being linked and would be a potential destination. And you post twice that he is moving to Williams.

[maygun]

Sainz-Russell combo does not sound good, both are not too likable drivers in the fan bases. Maybe they can poach Piastri from mcclaren, laid back character with huge potential, would be a waste under the shadow of Lando there.

[Bill_Kar]

I think it has to be between

Carlos
Ocon
Albon

Ocon' last year with Alpine is 2024, he signed a 3-year extension back in 2021, so that fits nicely. It is known that he has a good relationship with the boss. He doesn't have any experience with a top team, not particularly great if you ask me, his greatest sin is he's very inconsistent, not that he lacks outright speed. IMO, he doesn't fit that well with George.

Albon has a multi-year contract, not sure if the details have been publicized, but I guess it would not be a problem for Mercedes to buy him out. It could even be part of the deal for placing Kimi Antonelli there, pending on what is the relationship of Logan with Williams (I'm not sure). There is the feeling that he has a higher ceiling than Ocon, more down to earth etc.

Carlos is the most obvious one, a nice ol' switcheroo between teams. He has experience in Ferrari and Macca. In theory, the best option for 2025, but what about afterwards? There is the hanging rumour of him joining Audi, so will Mercedes be OK with having him tied for a single year? And then keep their options opened for 2026? Or will Carlos be satisfied with a long-term deal at Mercedes?

Too early to say, just expressing some of my premature thoughts on the 2025 seat.

[Luscion]

from Kemal Şengül, Motorsport TR chief editor

Wolff made the announcement virtually, as he was in Milan. This shows that the news was unexpected for him too. However, Hamilton and Ferrari were in contact in the background. Hamilton's - minimum 2-year - deal is expected to be announced by 22 today.

[CMC]

I have been a Lewis fan since 2006 (GP2) and much less so a Mercedes fan. While I have supported them since Lewis joined, and I have reveled in their successes together, the move to Ferrari excites me very much. Of course it remains to be seen how the trajectories of Mercedes and Ferrari will compare over the duration of these regs and into the next set for 2026, but I still see this as good news for Lewis fans, and surely for F1 as a whole. Perhaps not such good news for Mercedes, but all good things must end.

Bono to Ferrari?

[selvam_e2002]

There is a good chance Sainz to AM in 2025, so that Stroll JR will be happy and Alonso to Mercedes for 1+1 year contract then retire from sports
or
Vettel to Mercedes. it is feasible.