Fernando Alonso is reportedly keeping a close eye on the looming Merce🍰des vacancy created by Lewis Hami💮lton’s exit.

Hamilton will spend the F1 2024 season with Mercede♚s b🍬efore their illustrious association ends when he moves to Ferrari next year.

Ferrari tying down Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, and McLaren extending Lando Norris🌟’ contract, plus the possibility of an available Red Bull next year has also created seismic movement in the driver market.

Aston Martin’s Alonso has watched these early moves with “great 🍸interest”,  rep𝔍orts.

He is “already trying to position himself” with the high-profile 2025 vacancies in 🦩mind.

His well-connected manager Flavio Bᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤ཧ⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚriatore, who brought him from Alpine to Aston Martin at the end of 2022, is a key figure because of his prominence in the paddock.

Howev𒀰er, the same report states that Alonso “may not be on Toto Wolff's list yet, but is likely to be very soon”.

was: “I wouldn't have thought that Lewis would tell me that he was going to drive for Ferrari next year.

“That's why ꦫI wouldn't rule any🍌thing out in Formula 1.

“Drivers make decisions about whe🅠ther or not to ride for a team. It depends on the circumsta🃏nces.

“And if at s✤ome point a driver says he doesn't want to drive anymore, there is little remed🐭y for it. That's why I wouldn't rule anything out, no one at any time.

"We will always strive to have the best possible driver🌟 combination in our car and look 💧for each and every one of these conversations.

“You can see how quickly a situation can change. At the꧟ same time, of course, we respect contracts that exist.

“Drivers wꦯill always wanඣt to sit in the fastest car.”

Alonso’s contract with Ast🦩on Martin is due to expire at the end of this season.

At 42, he is the oldest driver on the F1 grid.

But he shot ba🍬ck into forꦯm a year ago upon his arrival at Aston Martin, rolling back the years with six podiums in the first half of the season.

Alonso is no stranger to high-pr♚ofile m🍎oves to new teams, either.

After his two F1 titles wit꧂h Renault h🌺e switched to McLaren where he was Hamilton’s first teammate.

He then l⛎atඣer a big-money switch to Ferrari which went sour, so he went back to McLaren.

Even his move to Aston Martin for the 2023 season was a 𒈔bolt from the blue, when it emerged that he would replace the retiring Sebastian Vettel.

But could he now be the driver to replace Hamilton at🎶 M📖ercedes?