Mercedes employees wanted Alonso to represent them.

      An interesting story was told by former Mercedes engineer José-Manuel Galán. When it became known in 2024 about Lewis Hamilton's decision to move to Ferrari, Toto Wolff gathered all the team members for a meeting, where he suggested choosing a candidate to replace the departing seven-time world champion. The team's choice fell on Fernando Alonso, but Wolff invited Kimi Antonelli to the team.

      On the day Hamilton announced his move to Ferrari, and news and rumors were already circulating on social media, Toto unexpectedly appeared and called for a general meeting, Galán said on the Minimo Comun Multipla podcast. "The whole team was present at the meeting. Toto, a true showman, talked about what happened, how he found out about everything, but added that he was now thinking about a replacement.

      He spoke very highly of Kimi Antonelli but added that he wanted to know our opinion. He pulled out a list and said, 'I have a list of drivers who do not have a contract for next year. I will name names, and you raise your hands if you want this driver to race for our team.'

      Toto started with random names: Sergio Perez, Esteban Ocon, Kimi Antonelli. And nothing, absolute silence. And suddenly he says, 'Carlos Sainz.' Toto saved the best names for last. Carlos was having a good season with Ferrari at the time, and about 5% of the staff raised their hands. These were timid movements, but it was the very first time someone raised their hand.

      And at the very end, Toto pronounced the name Fernando Alonso. Everyone who was at the base raised their hands. It was an impressive moment because, among other things, we had criticized Alonso for years. This guy is very problematic, and in England, I constantly heard jokes about how Alonso isn't actually that good, but I liked him just because he was Spanish.

      And suddenly I see the whole team take back their words and raise their hands, showing that they wanted Fernando. They raised their hands at the very base that supplied Mercedes engines for McLaren in 2007. An impressive moment."