F1 world champion says Alonso is the ‘perfect Hamilton replacement’

The 1997 Formula 1 World Champion, Jacques Villeneuve, shared his thoughts on the shocking transfer of Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari for the 2025 season and said who should replace the Briton at Mercedes.

According to the Canadian, the most suitable candidate to fill the shoes of the seven-time world champion in Brackley is his former teammate, Fernando Alonso. Despite turning 43 this summer, the Spaniard shows no intention of retiring from Formula 1. As a two-time champion, Alonso is the most experienced driver in the sport’s history and could reach his 400th race start this year.

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“I am amazed, especially because of the timing. Something like this has never been announced this way. Very strange. It will be talked about all year; it will be fun. I feel that Mercedes is missing something. I don’t think they will get on their feet in the next two years. So Lewis is right to go to Ferrari. If he wins there, it will be fantastic, it will be the best,” Villeneuve stated to Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Fernando Alonso, that would be fantastic,” was his unequivocal response when asked who, in his opinion, should replace Hamilton. “Besides, you can’t take another young driver like Russell, not at Mercedes. Toto has his ideas; he’s a bit like Flavio Briatore: he has his drivers, sends them to other teams, and then brings them back to himself.”