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Alonso almost swapped seats with Hamilton for 2015

Published on 01 Mar 2016 08:34
2
By: Rob Veenstra

Fernando Alonso says he almost switched to Mercedes last year in a move that would have involved Lewis Hamilton replacing him at Ferrari. As it became clear during the 2014 season that all was not well with Alonso and Ferrari's relationship, rumours emerged that the Maranello team and Mercedes might do a sensational driver swap.

"It was tried. Yes, yes, there was this offer," Alonso told Cadena Ser radio. "There were the circumstances for this idea but in that moment Ferrari didn't want it. We were in full negotiations to renew with me until 2019, so in the end Ferrari did not convince me and I went to McLaren-Honda," he said. "I don't know if Hamilton knew about it," said Alonso.

As for why he didn't stick around at Ferrari to reap the fruits of the fabled team's current resurgence, the 34-year-old explained: "I did not want to stay at Ferrari to be third until 2019. They were changing times at Ferrari and I still say that it was the right moment to close a wonderful story for me," Alonso said. (GMM)

F1 News Fernando Alonso Lewis Hamilton Mercedes McLaren Ferrari Honda

Replies (2)

mclarenfan1968

Posts: 1,027
LMAO get outta here Alonso.

He think's the public are stupid to think such a swap would be done without the merc driver ever having known about it? He might have had a chance if Lewis wanted to leave, not the other way around. Last year he was trying to create strife so he could hope for something to happen in the fallout, it didn't work out. Now he is at it again trying to destabilize the merc team with this claim just when the new season is about to start.

This tells us two things:
1) Mclaren have made a confirmed dog package that just wont do anything for this year and he has no more patience to deal with it.
2) Toto Wolf is serious about dropping one of the drivers if they don't behave in 2016, Alonso thinks he can line himself if that happens but he must be pretty daft to think that given his situation, age and his shenanigans at Mclaren, Ferrari and now at Mclaren again, Mercedes would be interested. Mercedes is the last team to hire him when they trying to deal with the bubbling problems between their current drivers. Alonso might want to make a fuss about Button handing him a fair amount of beating last year unlike how things went for him at Ferrari who focused totally on him and him alone, but he cant do it because he knows Button's rapport within the team and outside is far too strong for him to try anything again. If anything he can see his career end instantly by being dropped by mclaren after they get fed up with him for the second time.

This guy really needs to consider stand up comedy when he retires, he seems to have a future there.
- + 0
- Mar 1 2016 - 10:24
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  LOL, I sort of agree with you. In any case, its pretty clear Button remains a bargain for McLaren, with lower salary and better performance compared to Alonso. In any case, Mercedes have no intentions of dropping Hamilton. Why would they, when he's won for them 2 times in a row now. And even if they did, Alonso would not be their first option, Im pretty sure of that.
  + 0
  
  Mar 1 2016 - 13:24