What Fernando Alonso’s renewal means for the F1 driver market’s other key players
How will✨ Fernando Alonso staying at Aston Martin impact the rest of the F1 driver markeꦏt?
168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Fernando Alonso’s decision to stick with Aston Martin confirmed the next key piece of the F1 driver market puzzle.
Alonso’s “multi-year” contract renewal ties him to Aston Martin until at least the end of the 2026 season, and takes the💃 two-time world champion out of the equation for potential openings at Red Bull and Mercedes next year.
It also ha♛s major implications for the rest of the drivers still seeking🤡 to secure their futures for 2025 and beyond.
Alonso’s extension with Aston Martin may well strengthen 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Sergio Perez’s case to retain his Red Bull seat.
Perez is out of contract at the end of the year and entered the season facing huge pressure to keep hold of his drive. But his improved form in 2024 could be enough to see him stay alongside 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen.
Alonso staying at Aston Martin removes one competitor from the picture, further boos☂ting Perez’s hopes of extending his tenure with the൲ reigning world champions.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has stated that the seat is “Perez’s to lose” and the Mexican will surely be breathing a sigh of reli🃏ef now that Alonso won’t be sniff🅠ing around.
With168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Daniel Ricciardo underperforming at sister team RB, 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Yuki Tsunoda - who had been linked with Aston Martin - may turn out to be Perez’s main cඣompetition for the Red Bull seat.
That is, assuming Red Bull don’t move to snap up free agent168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Carlos Sainz, who has been an unfortunate victim of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton’s shock switch to🍸 Ferrari, leaving the Spaniard wi🌄thout a drive for 2025.
While Horner has named Sainz as a candidate for a Red Bull seat, ensuring Verstappen - whose own future has been the subject of speculation in recent weeks - stays happy i🐭s in Red Bull’s best interests.
The idea of a competitive 🧔and determined Sainz arriving at Red Bull probably wouldn’t be too well received by the Verstappen camp. ‘Team Max' - comprising Verstappen, his father Jos and manager Raymond Vermeulen - wield a lot of power at Red Bull and one would imagine they would prefer to maintain the status quo, than risk upsetting the applecart.
With the Aston Martin door now ♕slammed shut, and Mercedes seemingly favouring the notion of promoting their highly-rated teenage protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli straight from F2 to fill Hamilton’s vacant seat, Sainz’s options are narrowing.
Unless Red Bull make the bold decision that they do want to partner Sainz with Verstappen again, the Spaniard could be ꦯleft with Sauber/Audi and Williams as his most likely landing spots.
Perez ꦯand Sainz are the neꦬxt two major dominoes to fall and wherever they end up will have repercussions further down the grid.
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