F1 video: Formula Schmidt on the transfer market

He still hasn’t had enough. We are talking about Fernando Alonso. The old gentleman announced on Thursday (April 11) that he would continue to drive in Formula 1 for a while. Alonso signed a new contract with Aston Martin that will last at least until the 2026 season.

Age does not appear to be a barrier for the former world champion and the fire continues to burn for the 42-year-old Asturian. But his decision to continue racing with the Silverstone team has serious implications for the driver market.

Verstappen under pressure

Above all, Carlos Sainz has lost options. The Spaniard looked at the cockpit of the Aston Martin. At the moment it looks as if there is only one chance left for Mercedes for the Australian winner. Audi wants to put Sainz in the car next to Nico Hülkenberg. But Andreas Seidl doesn’t want to wait too long for his former driver from his McLaren days.

But Mercedes can continue to play for a while. After all, team boss Toto Wolff has long made it clear that he would like to sign Max Verstappen as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton. But the Dutchman hesitates. Mercedes does not drop good figures even in the third year of the era of ground impact. A switch to the Silver Arrows could deny him any chance of winning the 2025 race, let alone the world title. Red Bull is currently the best car in the field. The controversy surrounding team boss Christian Horner and the power struggle in the Red Bull empire could yet oust the ruler.

Then the world champion team from Milton Keynes would face a big problem. A replacement Fernando Alonso is already off the market. It is not known whether Carlos Sainz will still wait for Max Verstappen’s decision before signing with another team. So Red Bull may have to use its own driver squad.

Mercedes with Antonelli as an emergency solution?

If neither Sainz nor Verstappen rides for Mercedes from 2025, the chances of top talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli will increase. The Mercedes junior is currently in his first season in Formula 2. The question will be whether Toto Wolff is ready to entrust the Italian, who turns 18 in August, with the cockpit for next season.

If, in Wolff’s eyes, it is still too early to be promoted to the top flight, Esteban Ocon could once again impress Mercedes. Even before the season started, the Alpine driver made no secret of his desire to compete for the Silver Arrows. After all, the Frenchman was once a Mercedes junior himself.

In the new episode of “Formula Schmidt” our experts answer all questions about the Formula 1 driver market. Check it out!