The bullet meant for Christian Horner ricocheted and hit Red Bull Racing instead. Thanks to the controversy, the entire team is in a state of turmoil as the internal power struggle is taking an ugly turn. The most evident byproduct of this saga is the rumored change in personnel within the team. We heard rumors about Adrian Newey, Max Verstappen, and many more. However, circling back, it’s still Sergio Perez who is in the most vulnerable position in the team, and according to rumors, Horner has found a replacement in the shape of Fernando Alonso.
After spending more than two decades in the sport and possessing all the qualities for winning a championship, Alonso still has only won two. The double in 2005-06 remains the only two years where the Spaniard lived up to his potential. Since then, he’s been let down by various factors. However, the hunger is still there and the chance continues even at the ripe age of 42.
Couple this with Sergio Perez‘s incredibly shaky stint during the middle of the 2023 season, which put his future at Red Bull in jeopardy and we have an off-track switcheroo. The Mexican signed his death warrant after failing to even be within touching distance of his teammate after making tall claims. This is exactly why despite his consistent output in 2024, he will be replaced. According to a report by F1 Insider, he will make way for the Spaniard.
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The report suggests Alonso is highly likely to become a Red Bull driver in 2025 despite being on radar Mercedes’ radar as well. Apparently, Alonso is in advanced talks with Red Bull for the seat as Horner believes he will add value and competition to the team, which was his idea back in 2013 as well.
Read More: Fernando Alonso Claims to Be on Red Bull’s “List” if Max Verstappen Goes to Mercedes
With the Thai majority partners favoring Horner, we might just his wish come true. This driver pairing seems to be popular among some ex-Red Bull drivers as well.
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David Coulthard stamps his seal of approval on Fernando Alonso to Red Bull
The Former Red Bull man David Coulthard also weighed in on this debate about Alonso moving to any top team on the grid. Without mentioning the current rumors, Coulthard highlighted Alonso’s strengths and all that he brings to the table. He highlighted how Alonso has been racing competitively and continuously in premier classes since 2001. “He is an exceptional driver, with the added bonus that he has also had an uninterrupted career even if he left F1 for a while,” said Coulthard.
He further added, “His life is very focused on the idea of driving and just driving so that gives him an advantage. He is a pillar of the championship and is now having success with Aston Martin after a great career.” He then concluded by stating his opinion on Alonso joining any of the top teams, “Of course, you can imagine, it’s possible, I don’t see any reason why any team wouldn’t see Alonso as a real asset.“
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Now it remains to be seen where the Spaniard will take his evergreen talents. Red Bull, Mercedes, or somewhere else? The 2025 silly season should be interesting!