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Fernando Alonso believes he’s in a probably “good place to barter” his F1 future, with a potential transfer to Mercedes within the playing cards for the Aston Martin driver.
With the 2024 System 1 season about to start this week in Bahrain, one of many largest storylines stays who will fill Lewis Hamilton’s vacant seat at Mercedes subsequent season.
Alonso, who joined Aston Martin in 2023 with the promise of an ambition undertaking, is at present contracted to the Silverstone-based outfit till the top of 2024 which has sparked hypothesis about his subsequent transfer.
At 42, the Spaniard has given no indication that he intends to hold up his helmet. Fairly the opposite, with the two-time world champion claiming that he may race on in F1 for a lot of extra years given his distinctive degree of health, a truth he publicly highlighted on the again of a latest “stunning” medical check.
Nevertheless, Alonso hasn’t explicitly dedicated to Aston Martin which has fueled hypothesis that the two-time world champion might be focusing on Hamilton’s future vacant seat at Mercedes.
However different contenders stay within the image, notably Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a rising star and protégé of the Mercedes junior program, who has additionally garnered vital curiosity.
Talking through the last day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, Alonso acknowledged his sturdy negotiating place for subsequent 12 months however emphasised his present deal with the upcoming races.
He pressured that his rapid priorities lie within the current, not solely on securing a seat past 2024.
“In my case, it’s extremely attention-grabbing as a result of I’ve, I feel, an excellent place to barter,” he stated. “However I wish to not less than do the primary couple of races with out considering an excessive amount of.
“I wish to see myself into a brand new season. It’ll be the longest-ever season in System 1 [at 24 races].
“I wish to change somewhat bit among the journey schedule and issues to be actually environment friendly this 12 months and arrive with excessive vitality on the finish of the 12 months.
“So, a few issues which are my major focus now usually are not a lot subsequent 12 months.”
Alonso admitted to having been stunned on the unprecedented early begin to the motive force market frenzy, sometimes called “foolish season.”
This 12 months, a staggering 13 drivers, over half the grid, will see their contracts expire on the finish of the season, making a extremely dynamic and aggressive switch market.
“It was a shock,” he stated. “I used to be anticipating perhaps round summertime to have somewhat little bit of motion, but it surely began actually early. There have been some leaks.
“Most likely [Mercedes and Ferrari] must announce sooner than anticipated. So, after that, positively extra motion happening.”
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