Fernando Alonso to Mercedes? Flavio Briatore spotted having coffee with Toto Wolff

Fernando Alonso’s manager - and former F1 team boss at Renault - Flavio Briatore has teased fans by posting a picture of him having coffee with Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff.

Alonso has been mooted as a possible Lewis Hamilton replacement for 2025 following the seven-time world champion’s shock decision to move to Ferrari at the end of this season.

The Spaniard is currently with Aston Martin but is out of contract at the end of 2024.

The 42-year-old is determined to add more success to his glittering CV before his F1 career comes to an end.

Briatore and Wolff are known to be friends, pictured on holiday back in August 2022, so having an early morning brew isn’t unusual.

The pair would have known that posting the picture would have only intensified speculation about Alonso potentially joining Mercedes in 2025.

Of course, it could just be nothing more than friends having a coffee.

Could Alonso join Mercedes?

Alonso seems comfortable at Aston Martin, but if Mercedes prove to have a decisive advantage in 2024, the decision from the two-time champion’s side could be obvious.

In terms of Mercedes, they have a plethora of options.

Alongside Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, Alex Albon and Daniel Ricciardo have all been mentioned.

According to veteran journalist Mark Hughes, Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli is their ‘Plan A’, while Alonso is ‘Plan B’.

Antonelli will make his FIA Formula 2 debut with Prema next month, racing alongside Ferrari protege Oliver Bearman.