David Coulthard urges Mercedes to sign ‘gladiatorial’ F1 driver to replace Lewis Hamilton

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David Coulthard has told Mercedes to sign Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso over Sebastian Vettel for their vacant seat with Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari for 2025.

The Scuderia have signed Hamilton to a multi-year contract as Ferrari president John Elkann opted against renewing Carlos Sainz’s deal. He will move to Maranello after the 2024 season and race beside Charles Leclerc in red. Now, Mercedes’ attention is on who takes their drive.

Mercedes only tied Hamilton and teammate George Russell down for the 2024 and 2025 F1 seasons last August. But the Brackley outfit agreed to include a release clause in Hamilton’s terms. The 39-year-old has now taken up his option after two successive winless seasons.

Coulthard backs Alonso to replace Hamilton at Mercedes

The Formula 1 driver market now has two premier seats available for 2025 with Sergio Perez also set to be out of contract at Red Bull. The Mexican and Sainz were just two of more than half of the grid with expiring deals. Alonso is also out of contract at Aston Martin after 2024.

Alonso signed a multi-year contract to join Aston Martin from Alpine for the 2023 campaign. It proved to be a fantastic decision as the 42-year-old enjoyed a ‘dream’ first season with the Silverstone squad. He sealed eight podiums in 22 rounds for fourth in the drivers’ standings.

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has long been keen to lock Alonso down past 2024. But Mercedes could now consider Alonso as they look to replace Hamilton. The Spaniard is in peak condition with more podiums in 2023 than he had since the 2013 season combined.

‘Gladiatorial’ Alonso would be a better signing than Vettel

Alonso should be a clear contender to replace Hamilton at Mercedes – as far as Coulthard is concerned. The 13-time Grand Prix winner believes Toto Wolff must put the 2005 and 2006 F1 champion high up in the Silver Arrows’ shortlist given the way he dominated Lance Stroll.

“If I was Mercedes, I would take Alonso over Vettel,” Coulthard told the Formula for Success podcast. “He’s race fit, he understands the engine, the power unit, because of Aston Martin and he’s still gladiatorial and got the bit between his teeth.

“Yes, maybe Seb was just struggling a little bit with the development of the Aston when he was there. But he wasn’t, sort of, putting manners on Lance Stroll in the way that we have seen from Fernando Alonso. So, if I could get Fernando, I’d take him.”

Alonso scored 206 points to Stroll’s 74 in their first season as teammates at Aston Martin in 2023. He even won their Grand Prix results head-to-head 18-4 and qualifying head-to-head 19-3. Vettel beat Stroll 10-9 in the races and 13-7 in qualifying with 37 points to 18 in 2022.

But if Mercedes cannot coax Alonso to leave Aston Martin when Hamilton leaves for Ferrari, Coulthard would then back the Silver Arrows to target Vettel. The former Williams, McLaren and Red Bull driver can see the likely marketing benefits from putting the German in the car.

“Then, yes, I think Vettel could be a good, experienced option,” Coulthard continued. “He’d certainly be a good marketing story, as well, providing he doesn’t get his doors blown off by George. I think George is fantastically fast. So, it wouldn’t be easy for Seb.”