As per the recent talks at Mercedes, it has been revealed that Fernando Alonso would be in the list of possible replacements for retired Formula One World Champion Nico Rosberg at Mercedes despite his contract with McLaren as per the team boss Toto Wolff. The Austrian shared in a recent television interview with Sky Sports which is scheduled to broadcast on Thursday as a part of a look at Rosberg’s season. Wolff said “He is a driver I respect a lot. He combines talent, speed, and experience. It’s all there. But he is in a contract with McLaren-Honda at the moment and we just need to weigh all the other options up.”
At the same time, even McLaren said on Monday that they are more than confident that Alonso is happy where he is and they were not at all worried about the double world champion Spaniard leaving the team. Rosberg has actually stunned Formula One and threw a spanner in Mercedes plans for the 2017 racing plans as he announced his retirement on Fridays which is just five days after winning his first world title in Abu Dhabi. This has actually come as a great shock to his fans as well as for the Team. This way the seat he leaves behind is the most coveted one in Formula One, with Mercedes winning 19 out of 21 races this year and clinching both world championships for the third season in succession.
Between Rosberg and triple champion team mate Lewis Hamilton lost just eight races in three years and started all but one on pole position in 2016. While big names like Alonso have been considered as probable’s but all the top drivers who are under contract with rival teams who are unlikely to countenance their departure for the sport’s most dominant team. Even Alonso will be out of contract at the end of 2017 which has also triggered speculation that Mercedes could opt for a stop gap if they are serious about signing the 35 years old who partnered Hamilton at McLaren in 2007.
Among another favourite for the empty seat remains the team’s German reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein who raced for tail Enders Manor this year. Wolff also clarified whoever the team signs will have the same terms to Hamilton. Wolff said both drivers will have equal status and equal opportunity to the best of our abilities. We owe it to the fans. You can’t have a pecking order.”
