Alonso confirms that Mercedes called him following Rosberg's retirement

Fernando Alonso has confirmed that Mercedes contacted him after Nico Rosberg retired from Formula 1 days after winning the championship.

The Spaniard was heavily linked for the first couple of weeks to replace Rosberg in the Silver Arrow and many fans became excited at the prospect of seeing him re-united with former team mate Lewis Hamilton, however Alonso refused, stating he is committed to McLaren.

"I think Rosberg caught Mercedes by surprise and so they made a round of calls to everyone," Spaniard Alonso told Cadena Cope radio.

"They even said 'All the drivers called us' and I think it may be true. Whether they called them or the drivers called, I think they talked to the entire grid to have information and know every situation.

"I was no different," Alonso explained. "Toto Wolff called me in an informative, very calm way but I told him I had a contract with McLaren, that I was happy here and had no plans to do anything crazy.

"I think they also had a driver profile in mind - a Bottas or Wehrlein type - to fit with the Mercedes programme and not put too many obstacles for Hamilton. It was a two or three minute conversation and nothing more than information."

Fergal Walsh