MERCEDES are pursuing Fernando Alonso to replace Lewis Hamilton, according to reports.

The Silver Arrows are set to have huge shoes to fill, with seven-time world champion Hamilton, 39, joining Ferrari next season.

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Fernando Alonso is set to be a free agent at the end of the seasonCredit: Rex

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Toto Wolff is on the hunt for a Lewis Hamilton replacementCredit: Getty
Team principal Toto Wolff has admitted that he would love to have Max Verstappen onboard.

He said of the Red Bull star: “There is no team that wouldn’t do handstands to have him in the car.”

With Verstappen under contract until 2028, however, Wolff is likely to have to look elsewhere.

Prior to the season, the 52-year-old admitted that he will have a big decision to make whether to go with youth or experience when replacing Hamilton.

According to Bild, Mercedes could go with the latter, with Alonso in their sights.

They claim that the Spaniard, 42, has a “good chance” of ending up with Mercedes, and that the Silver Arrows are already “dealing with” Alonso.

The two-time world champion’s deal with Aston Martin is set to expire at the end of the season.

Last month, he said on his future: “If I want to keep racing beyond this year, the first and only talk at the beginning will be Aston Martin.

“I trust this project and that will be my first priority. But if we cannot reach an agreement I know that I am attractive to other teams.

“I will not stay in Formula One just to have fun. I am not that kind of person and not that kind of driver. Let’s see what the options are.”

Watch Mercedes boss Toto Wolff hilariously mock Fernando Alonso after Spaniard almost crashed into Lewis Hamilton

Alonso has not managed to secure a podium in his Aston Martin so far this season.

He came ninth in the Bahrain opener, before finishing fifth in Saudi Arabia.

Should Mercedes opt to go for youth, they could swoop for 17-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

The wonderkid is competing in Formula 2 this season for Prema Racing.

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