Fernando Alonso has been handed differing advice about whethe🃏r to go to Mercedes, underlining the difficulty of his decision.

Aston Martin driver Alonso is widely reported to be on Toto Wolff's shortlist of drivers wh💟o could replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025.

Hamilton's decision to go to Ferrari next year has ๊blown open the driver market and has created an interesting vacancy.

Alonso's Aston Martin currently use a power unit provided by Mercedes, who have been in a slum🌟p for over two years, but they have a bright future and a partnership with Hಌonda which will begin in 2026.

The ✱potential shown at Law🌞rence Stroll-owned Aston Martin means Alonso would not necessarily be at an advantage if he switches to the more historically successful Mercedes, he has been told.

Natalie Pinkham said on the podcast before the A🔥ustralian Grand Prix: "He will be the one who knows the most. He's on the inside. He'll know if they are going in the right direction, for him.

"Toꦆ leave Aston for Mercedes? I would say that's a gamb🌊le for Fernando.

"He's not guaranteed to do better ๊at Mercedes than to stick around at Aston.

"And he's not always made the best deci෴sions in his F1 career!"

Alonso has represented Minardi, Renault, Ferrari, McLaren, Alpine and Aston Martin in his legendary Fo🃏rmula 1 career.

He won two F1 championships at Renault but a moꦗve to Ferrari was ill-fated.

Now 42 he is the oldest driver on the grid and has hinted at retirement, although some in the paddock 🌜claim that is a classic negotiation tactic to extract the best contract for 2025.

L'Equipe's Fred Ferret has advised him to t♌ake up the chance to go to Mercedes if it comes.

"Of course," he said. "They have the same engine.

"If you move, you always take the team who has the en🍎gin🦹e. They are building the engine!

"At Mercedes, the problem is not the engine. In the end, they wil🌄l cope with their chassi💖s. I hope so...

"My name is Fernando Alonso, I have moved six times in 20♒ years, so I can move a seventh time!"

The intriguing vacancy is at Red Bull.

Should t𒐪hey opt to dispense with Sergio Perez - or, incredibly, they lose Max Verstappen - then the most dominant car in F1 will require a new driver.

Alonso would then 🔯be in the mix for that ღchance, too.

Who could Aston Martin replace Alonso with?

"I would more bet on Carlos Sainz to go there, if Fernando goe🅷s to Red Bull," F🐼erret claimed.

Sainz has lost his Ferrari to෴ Hamilton in 2025 and is without a seat at all next year.