Along with the still unanswered question of what place Carlos Sainz will occupy from 2025, the debate also opens up about who could replace the seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton. However, Oscar Piastri already hypothesizes Alonso's arrival at Mercedes.
The Brackley team has numerous options to fill the empty seat left by Lewis Hamilton. From the young and promising Kimi Antonelli, who will make his debut in F2 this year, skipping F3, through Mick Schumacher or Esteban Ocon, already a Mercedes reserve driver in the past and who the team could consider bringing back into the context. Yet, Oscar Piastri has a very specific name in mind: Fernando Alonso.
“Alonso will go to Mercedes”. As stated in an interview with F1TV Pro during the tests in Bahrain, the Australian expressed his prediction that he already sees the Spaniard wearing the black suit. Alonso would undoubtedly be the driver with the most experience on the grid, ideal to partner George Russell, and is the only one of the options to have world titles in his palmares. The McLaren driver could hypothesize Alonso's arrival at Mercedes to work together with Toto Wolff, also thanks to the close bond between Alonso and Mark Webber, Piastri's current manager.
McLaren, performances far from Red Bull and Ferrari
After the tests in Bahrain, the Woking team took stock of the situation ahead of next weekend. Both pilots, after the series of small problems encountered in testing (who limited Norris to completing 145 laps in the three days available), agree that McLaren will not be a match for Red Bull.
“I'd like to think we're somewhat at the front of the grid. At the moment, however, I don't think we can compete with Red Bull, and I don't think anyone on the grid thinks differently."
Oscar Piastri at motorsport.com
Unlike the young Australian, a little more restrained in his statements, Lando Norris was more pessimistic about the performance of the MCL38, positioning himself not only far from Max Verstappen, but also from Ferrari.
“If you ask me if we have made a step forward? Certainly. If you ask me if we have improved many things? Yes. We have taken some steps in the right direction, but we are still far behind Red Bull and Ferrari. So, we have a lot of work ahead of us, but also a lot of lessons learned in the last few days to put into practice before next week."
Lando Norris at Racing News 365
Norris: “I have no regrets. I trust my team"
Despite his statements about the start of the season, the English driver assured in an interview with Racing News 365 that he is sure of his decision to renew with McLaren, although together with the interest already shown by Red Bull, the opportunity to move to Mercedes has now opened up with Hamilton's exit.
“No, no, I'm very happy. I could have waited, so I had the option [to renew or not]. I knew that opportunities would come my way, and the opportunities I had last year and this year, and what could happen or will happen in the next couple of years. So, I have no regrets. I trust my team, I trust what we have achieved and what we can achieve in the future, and I am very happy to be where I am."
Lando Norris at Racing News 365
Both drivers, but especially Norris who is aiming for his long-awaited first victory, are waiting for McLaren to make progress and reach the objectives set, aware that it may be necessary to wait until 2026 to win a world title.
