£270k-a-week driver will want Red Bull seat if either Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez leave

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If either Sergio Perez or Max Verstappen leave Red Bull Racing at the end of 2024, Fernando Alonso would be keen on replacing either driver going into next season.

Fernando Alonso is entering the final year of his contract and as he has enjoyed pointing out, he’s the only available world champion in the driver’s market for 2025.

Speaking on the F1 Nation Podcast, journalist Tom Clarkson believes the two-time champion would be happy to replace either driver at the Milton Keynes-based team.

Alonso would be happy to replace Verstappen or Perez at Red Bull

It’s no surprise that Fernando Alonso is exploring his options knowing he’s out of contract at the end of the season.

Although he’s previously said he could race until he’s 50, the £270,000-a-week driver will know that he may not have too many more opportunities to move to a top Formula 1 team.

Aston Martin have taken strides forward since his arrival and his eight podium finishes last year were very impressive.

However, this year’s driver market has been thrown wide open by Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari and the talk that Max Verstappen might end up leaving Red Bull, potentially as Alonso’s replacement.

Clarkson believes Alonso would be happy to join Red Bull for the 2025 season as an alternative to Verstappen or Sergio Perez.

The Mexican has also entered the last year of his deal but back-to-back second places should mean he’s safe in his position for now.

Alonso assessing his options in 2025 driver market

Speaking about the 42-year-old’s future, Clarkson said: “There’s one driver who’s licking his lips at the prospect of Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull for 2025 and that is Fernando Alonso!

“Fernando is sitting pretty, he’s got those two world championships, he’s got the speed still, he’s got the desire, we’ve seen that. Where’s he going to end up?

“Is he going to end up in the Mercedes replacing Lewis Hamilton? Is he going to end up in a Red Bull?

“Do you know what, even if Max stays I can still see Fernando knocking on the door at Milton Keynes saying, ‘Come on, give me a crack’.

“They almost did a deal about 10 years ago and it didn’t happen for various reasons, so I could see him ending up in a Red Bull irrespective of which driver stays.”

Alonso would be a brilliant teammate for Perez at Red Bull but the dynamic between him and Max Verstappen might not be easy to manage.

The Spaniard would be the toughest teammate Verstappen had ever come across despite the fact he’s not won a race for over a decade.

Aston Martin will want to end all the speculation around Alonso’s future and plan to offer him a new contract very soon.

Whether he decides to put pen to paper and sign on the dotted line is another matter.