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.
Australia's captain Alyssa Healy's poor performance behind the wickets was overshadowed by her exceptional batting skills as she led her team to a comfortable 10-wicket win against Bangladesh in their Women's World Cup match. Her opening partner Phoebe Litchfield also remained unbeaten on 84 as Australia chased down the target of 199 in just 24.5 overs. Healy, who was named Player of the Match in their previous game against India, also praised her teammate Alana King for her impressive bowling performance.
During a match on the latest episode of AEW Dynamite, one of the leaders of La Facción Ingobernable reportedly dislocated his elbow after getting caught on the bottom rope. Despite the injury, he managed to continue with the post-match beatdown. It is uncertain if the injury will affect his future matches, including one scheduled for the following day in Mexico. Viewers can catch up on all the details of the incident and the rest of the AEW episode here.
After major flight delays and security restrictions, star Indian cricketers Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill landed in Perth for the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Along with the rest of the team, they will face off against Australia starting on October 19 in Perth, followed by matches in Adelaide and Sydney. Questions about the future of Rohit and Kohli in the ODI team have sparked debate among fans.
Former New Zealand captain, Kane Williamson, has been signed on as the strategic advisor for IPL team, Lucknow Super Giants. He will be replacing Zaheer Khan and will be working with the likes of Justin Langer and Rishabh Pant. Williamson's appointment comes after a three-month-long process that began during his time in the UK, where he was also involved in the Hundred. The Super Giants will be looking to improve their performance after a seventh-place finish in IPL 2025.
Amidst speculations of his retirement, Virat Kohli, the iconic former captain of the Indian cricket team, took to social media to share a powerful message of resilience. With the first match of the Australian ODI series approaching, all eyes are on Kohli and his fellow veteran teammate Rohit Sharma, who will be returning to the squad as a player but not as captain. As the two legends approach the end of their international careers, fans are eagerly waiting to see how they fare on the field.
Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer has collaborated with the faith-tech platform Bhagavad Gita for All, highlighting the use of the Gita's teachings for improved performance and mental wellness. With over 10,000 books sold and 1 lakh users on its mobile app, the platform aims to bring ancient wisdom into daily life through modern tech. Iyer's composure and focus on the field make him a perfect fit for this partnership, which also aims to reach Gen Z and Millennials for high-performance training.
The city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India has been recommended as the host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games by the Commonwealth Sport's Executive Board. This decision is set to be finalized on November 26 at the body's General Assembly, after being sent to the full membership of Commonwealth Sport. Gujarat Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, expressed his pride and gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their vision and commitment towards making Ahmedabad the Sporting Capital of India.
Despite two goals from Ronaldo, Portugal was unable to secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup. Ronaldo's impressive performance, including his 40th and 41st World Cup qualifying goals, wasn't enough to overcome Hungary's late equalizer. Portugal will have to wait until November for another chance to qualify, with hopes of giving their star player one final shot at a major tournament.
In a heated match between India and Singapore in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, the Blue Tigers suffered a painful defeat as they failed to capitalize on their chances. Despite an early goal from Lallianzuala Chhangte, India's hopes were extinguished as Song Ui-young scored twice for Singapore, sealing their first win of the qualifying campaign. With just two points from four matches, India's chances of advancing to the next round now hang by a thread, as they would need to win all their remaining matches and hope for other results to go their way.
In a thrilling AFC Asian Cup qualifier match, Singapore stunned India with a 2-1 away victory, effectively ending the latter's hopes of qualification. Despite India's early lead through a stunning goal from Chhangte, Song Ui-young's clinical brace secured the win for Singapore. The result leaves India at the bottom of their group, while Singapore stays within reach of group leaders Hong Kong. India's missed chances ultimately proved costly, as their promising front-foot approach fell short in the end.