Alonso spoke with Mercedes following Rosberg retirement

Fernando Alonso has revealed that he spoke to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff about replacing the departing Nico Rosberg at the Silver Arrows all the way back in 2016.

Alonso, a two-time Formula 1 World Champion is currently pursuing the triple crown, and although he won Le Mans 24 hr for the second time last weekend, his bid to win the Indy 500 ended before it had really begun. He is also in an ambassadorial role at McLaren but was recently rumoured to be lined up to replace Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari.

When he was approached by Mercedes in 2016, Alonso had just finished his second season with McLaren. Nico Rosberg had just shocked the motorsport world by retiring after winning his only World Championship, leaving a seat spare.

It was eventually filled by Valtteri Bottas but it could have been very different.

"In the past, I've had contact with Mercedes," he said as quoted by AS.