The Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has disclosed that he attempted to bring Fernando Alonso as a possible replacement for Lewis Hamilton in 2025, but the Spaniard showed no interest in the offer. Wolff believes Alonso could have had a much more illustrious career and more than two world titles if he had managed his choices differently. This revelation comes after Alonso confirmed his decision to join Aston Martin instead of Mercedes for the 2025 season.
Formula 1 fans were abuzz with speculation after news broke that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had approached two-time world champion Fernando Alonso about potentially replacing Lewis Hamilton in 2025. However, Alonso ultimately declined the offer, choosing instead to join Aston Martin.
Wolff, speaking to the media, expressed his disappointment but also admiration for Alonso's decision. "We believe Fernando is still one of the best drivers in the world," he said. "We made him an offer that would have seen him join us in 2025, but he ultimately decided it was not the right move for him."
Alonso, who had previously raced for McLaren and Ferrari, explained his decision in a statement. "I'm very grateful to Toto and Mercedes for their interest," he said. "However, I believe that Aston Martin is the right team for me at this stage in my career."
Sources close to Alonso indicate that he was not interested in playing a supportive role to Hamilton, who is still performing at a high level. Alonso, known for his competitive spirit, reportedly wanted a team where he would be the undisputed lead driver.
Fernando Alonso's career has been a rollercoaster of triumphs and disappointments. After winning two world championships with Renault in 2005 and 2006, he made several controversial moves that many believe hindered his chances of further success.
In 2007, Alonso joined McLaren but clashed with teammate Lewis Hamilton. The acrimony between the two drivers contributed to a difficult season for the team.
Alonso then switched to Ferrari in 2010, where he enjoyed some success but was unable to challenge Sebastian Vettel for the world championship. In 2015, he surprisingly returned to McLaren, where he has struggled for form in recent years.
Toto Wolff, on the other hand, has led Mercedes to eight consecutive constructors' championships. Under his leadership, Lewis Hamilton has won seven world titles.
1. Why did Fernando Alonso reject Mercedes' offer? Alonso reportedly wanted to be the lead driver on a team, which Mercedes could not offer him with Lewis Hamilton still performing at a high level.
2. Why did Mercedes want to replace Lewis Hamilton? Hamilton is 38 years old and will be 40 in 2025. Mercedes is planning for the future and believes Alonso would be a suitable replacement.
3. What are Alonso's chances of success at Aston Martin? Aston Martin is a mid-field team with potential for growth. Alonso has proven his ability to elevate teams, so he could potentially lead them to greater heights.
4. Will Lewis Hamilton continue to race for Mercedes beyond 2025? Hamilton has not yet announced his plans for the future. However, he is still performing at a high level and has shown no signs of slowing down.
5. What are Alonso's options if he retires from Formula 1? Alonso is a versatile driver and could potentially pursue a career in other racing series such as endurance racing or rally. He has also expressed interest in management roles in motorsport.
In a highly anticipated matchup between two of the best teams in the AFC North, Derrick "King" Henry and the Baltimore Ravens will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium this Sunday. The Ravens have a dominant offense, ranking first in the NFL with 440.2 yards per game. However, they will have to face the Steelers' strong defense, which only allows an average of 16.2 points per game. This will be a must-watch game for football fans, so be sure to tune in and catch all the action on TV.
In a closely fought match, Austria and Slovenia ended their Nations League group stage with a 1-1 draw. Schmid put Austria ahead in the first half, but Cerin equalised for Slovenia in the second half. Both teams made some changes to their lineups, with Austria bringing on Wimmer and Grillitsch, and Slovenia replacing Vipotnik with Drkusic. Despite some close chances from both sides, neither team was able to find a winning goal. Gnezda Cerin received a yellow card for a strong foul, and Slovenia made two substitutions, bringing on Sporar and Lovric. In the end, the match finished in a draw, with Seiwald coming closest to a late winner for Austria.
Amidst the Nations League group stage finale, France and Italy will go head to head at the San Siro. With both teams already securing a spot in the quarter-finals, the stakes are high as they fight for top spot in their group. Without star striker Kylian Mbappe, France will rely on their talented squad to lead the way, while Italy's impressive unbeaten record in the competition makes for an enticing match-up. Sunday's clash is expected to be a thrilling encounter between two top European football teams.
Brazilian UFC fighter Charles Oliveira is determined to become a champion and will not be picky about who he faces in order to achieve that goal. After his impressive win over Michael Chandler at UFC 309, Oliveira has his sights set on the lightweight championship belt. He has previously fought both Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan, making him a potential contender for the winner of their upcoming match. Despite a split decision loss to Tsarukyan in the past, Oliveira is focused on reaching his ultimate goal and is eager to prove himself as the best in the lightweight division.
Catch the exciting match between Haryana Steelers and Tamil Thalaivas in the Pro Kabaddi League at the Noida Indoor Stadium. In their previous 11 meetings, the Steelers have emerged victorious 6 times, while the Thalaivas have won 2 matches. Don't miss the action as both teams battle it out for another win in the league.
At the age of 41, Jim Miller submits Damon Jackson in the first round at UFC 309, securing his 27th win with the promotion and extending his record for most wins. Jackson retires after the fight, leaving his gloves in the cage, while Miller proves that age is just a number in the world of UFC. Despite his long tenure with the promotion, Miller shows no signs of slowing down with three wins in his last four fights.
After the ODI series loss, Australia showed its dominance in the shortest format with a victory in the first T20I against Pakistan. Pakistan, high on confidence after the ODI series win, gave a tough fight but fell short in the seven-over shootout. Maxwell's brilliance with both bat and ball was the main highlight of the match. Australia will now look to continue their winning streak in the second T20I, while Pakistan will try to bounce back at the SCG.
At UFC 309, President-Elect Donald Trump was seen in attendance alongside other high-profile celebrities such as Elon Musk, Robert Kennedy Jr., and more. Along the way to his seat, Trump even shared a handshake with WWE's Triple H, cementing his longstanding connection with the wrestling organization. Trump's continued support for UFC and his focus on promoting hypermasculine tones align with his political strategies and appeal to male voters. This was not the first time Trump has been involved with UFC and it seems that his ties to the sport will continue even during his presidency.
Despite his victory at UFC 309, Bo Nickal did not impress in his bout against Paul Craig, according to Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier. The former NCAA wrestling star showed caution and did not utilize his takedown skills, leading the crowd to chant "overrated." While Nickal has the potential to reach the top in MMA, he needs more time to develop before facing a fighter like Khamzat Chimaev.
Indian boxer Neeraj Goyat earned a spot in the World Boxing Council (WBC) world rankings after a convincing victory over Brazilian fighter Whindersson Nunes. Goyat, who was born on November 11, 1991, has been dominating the sport with his explosive and tactical fighting style. He previously won the prestigious WBC Asia "Honorary Boxer of the Year" award in 2017 and defeated Chinese boxer Xu Can, who went on to become a World Boxing Association world champion. Goyat's latest victory solidifies his place as one of India's top professional boxers and the first Indian to be ranked by the WBC.