Fernando Alonso may have the opportunity to make a ‘massive’ move for next year, journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm says.
Alonso, who joined Aston Martin for 2023, is out of contract at the end of the current season.
And Mitchell-Malm, speaking on The Race F1 podcast, suggested he could have his eyes on two seats elsewhere for 2025.
Alonso was able to fight at the front of the field last year, scoring eight podiums en route to fourth in the championship.
But Aston Martin appear to have lost ground to their rivals after the first couple of races.
They’ve only been able to pick up 13 points so far, with Alonso scoring 12 of those.
Team ambassador Pedro de la Rosa hailed his compatriot as a ‘beast’ after he finished fifth last time out in Saudi Arabia.
Aston team principal Mike Krack says he intends to offer the ‘exemplary’ two-time world champion a new deal in the coming weeks.
However, journalist Samarth Kanal believes he’s becoming increasingly unhappy with his situation.
Alonso, who’s won 32 races and taken 22 pole positions, must first decide if he wants to continue racing full stop.
At 42, he’s the oldest driver on the current grid, and he hasn’t tasted victory for over a decade.
Fernando Alonso eyeing Mercedes and Red Bull seats
Mitchell-Malm thinks the main focus for Alonso right now is trying to find a way through the door at Mercedes and Red Bull.
The Silver Arrows are hunting for a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who will join Ferrari next year.
Meanwhile, Red Bull driver Sergio Perez is in the final year of his contract.
Mitchell-Malm says it’s inevitable that Alonso will be ‘holding out’ for that kind of opportunity, but warned that he may have to bide his time.
He said (34:00): “Mercedes and Red Bull are the big ones for him.
“If he can get one of those seats, it’s going to be massive.
“I can’t imagine someone like Alonso isn’t holding out for a seat like that.
“But they’re not making their minds up.”
Who could replace Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin?
If Aston lose Alonso for 2025, against their wishes, then they will at least be shopping in a market with plenty of available drivers.
Team owner Lawrence Stroll is willing to do whatever it takes to land Max Verstappen from Red Bull.
But Verstappen is under contract until the end of 2028 campaign, and the soon-to-be free agent Carlos Sainz may be a more realistic candidate.
Sainz, who himself has won two Grands Prix and taken five pole positions, will make way for Hamilton at Ferrari.
Sky F1 commentator David Croft has urged Stroll to ‘aggressively’ pursue the 29-year-old before he’s snapped up by a rival.
The team’s reserve driver Felipe Drugovich won the Formula 2 championship in 2022 but Croft has already ruled out a promotion.
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