Alonso says Mercedes ‘doesn’t feel that attractive’ as he continues to weigh up 2025 options

Fernando Alonso has offered another update on his future F1 plans as the two-time world champion mulls over whether he wants to continue in the sport and, if so, with which team.

Now 42, the Spaniard commented pre-season that he initially needs to decide if he will “commit to the future” and extend his stay in F1 beyond the 2024 season, with his “first priority” being to talk to Aston Martin.

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After last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, Alonso was asked about those earlier comments and whether his run to the top six at Suzuka – albeit a long way behind the Red Bulls, the Ferraris and the McLaren of Lando Norris – helps him make a decision.

“It goes either way,” he told Sky Sports F1. “I have a lot of fun, which is great, to keep on racing. I had one of my best weekends ever, I think, driving, and I’m 44 seconds behind the leader. It doesn’t feel attractive at the same time, so let’s see.”

Pushed if it would be ‘more attractive’ to join a team further up the grid, and whether he will be calling Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, Alonso replied: “That’s a very good question, but Mercedes is behind us, so it doesn’t feel that attractive.”

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After introducing a series of updates in Japan, Alonso added that Aston Martin “still need some pace” relative to McLaren and Mercedes, and that Red Bull and Ferrari are “in another league”.

“It is difficult always to compare from track to track [regarding how the new package performed], but I guess we have a lot of data now,” Alonso explained. “After the whole weekend we will analyse everything.

“The team for sure is doing everything right on Sundays – strategy-wise, the start is mega, pit stops today were amazing, and thanks to all those small factors we are finishing sixth instead of ninth or wherever.

“I love to see that but, as I said, fundamentally the pace of the car is still not as good as we want it and we want to improve that.”

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Aston Martin sit fifth in the constructors’ standings after the opening four rounds, a point behind Mercedes and a further 35 behind McLaren, while Red Bull and Ferrari are building a buffer at the head of the field.