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Fernando Alonso believes he occupies a “unique” position in a Formula 1 driver market blown open by Lewis Hamilton’s “surprise” signing for Ferrari from 2025.
“There are only three world champions on the grid and there is only one available,” said the Aston Martin driver, who is one of 14 drivers currently out of contract at the end of this season.
Hamilton, who earlier this month signed a multi-year deal to join Ferrari from Mercedes next year in a tie-up that Alonso admits he had not seen coming, and Max Verstappen, who is on a deal at Red Bull to 2028, are the other two world champions on this season’s grid next to Alonso.
Alonso was speaking on the eve of the launch of Aston Martin’s new AMR24 car for the double world champion’s second season at the team, and a remarkable 21st on the grid, as the Silverstone-based outfit target another step forward in performance after making big strides forward this time last year.
The 42-year-old detailed the thought process he will go through when he comes to evaluate his F1 future beyond 2024 over the coming months.
“I am aware of my situation, which is very unique. There are only three world champions on the grid – and fast world champions, because in the past maybe there were some world champions but they were not so committed to be fast – and I am probably the only one available for ’25 so I have a good position.
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“But, at the same time, when I make the decision if I want to keep racing or not for the future first and only talk that I will have at the beginning is with Aston Martin because that will be my only one priority.”
Alonso did suggest that his performances from last season, when he finished fourth in the Drivers’ Championship and claimed an impressive eight podium finishes after a big jump in form from Aston Martin, meant he was “probably attractive to other teams” on the look out for drivers in 2025.
His name has inevitably already been linked with the seat that Hamilton will vacate at Mercedes at the end of the year but Alonso said there had been no contact between him and the Brackley team since news of the Briton’s unexpected Ferrari switch broke on February 1.
