Fernando Alonso has been 🌊hanꦛded differing advice about whether to go to Mercedes, underlining the difficulty of his decision.

Aston Martin dr꧃iver Alonso is widely reported to be on Toto Wolff's shortlist of drivers who could replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025.

Hamilton's decision to go t🎃o Ferrari next year has blown open the driver market and has created an interesting vacancy.

Alonso's Aston Ma🀅rtin currently use a power unit provided by Mercedes, who have been in a slump for over two years, but they have a bright future and a partnership with Honda which will begin in 2026.

Thℱe potential shown at Lawrence Stroll-owned Ast🤪on Martin means Alonso would not necessarily be at an advantage if he switches to the more historically successful Mercedes, he has been told.

Natalie Pinkham said on the podcast before th♏e Australian Grand Prix: "He will be the one who knows ♊the most. He's on the inside. He'll know if they are going in the right direction, for him.

"To l𓆏eave Aston for Mercedes? I would say th🥂at's a gamble for Fernando.

"He's not guaranteed to do better at Mercedes than to stick 🌳around at Aston.

"And he's not always made the best decisions in his F1 ca𝕴reer!"

Alonso has represented Minardi, Renault, Ferrari, McLaren, Alpine and Asꦐton Martin in his legendary Formula 1 career.

He won two F1 championships at Renault b꧃ut a move to💦 Ferrari was ill-fated.

Now 42 he is the oldest driver on the grid and has hiꦓnted at retirement,🎐 although some in the paddock claim that is a classic negotiation tactic to extract the best contract for 2025.

L'Equipe's Fred Ferret has advi🐷sed him to take up the chance to go to Mercedes if it comes.

"Of course," he said. "They have the same engine.

"If you move, you always take the team who has the engine.ꦓ They are bui🏅lding the engine!

"At Mercedes, the problem is n𓃲ot the engine. In the end, they will cope with their chassis. I hope s🐎o...

"My name is Fernando Alonso, I have moved six ti𒆙mes in 𒁃20 years, so I can move a seventh time!"

The intriguing vacancy is at Red Bull.

Should they opt to dispense with Sergio Perez - or, incre🅠dibly, they lose Max Verstappen - then the most dominant car i🦹n F1 will require a new driver.

Alonso would then bꦡe in the mix for that chance, too.

Who could Aston Martin replace Alonso with?

"I would more bet on Carlos🐠 Sainz to go there, if Fernando goes to Red Bull," Ferret claimed.

Sainz 🌳has lost his F𒁃errari to Hamilton in 2025 and is without a seat at all next year.