Red Bull wanted Fernando Alonso to replace Pierre Gasly before asking Alex Albon!

Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Red Bull asked Fernando Alonso to replace Pierre Gasly before they appointed Alex Albon as the Frenchman's replacement!

There have been countless reports linking the Spaniard to a Formula 1 return but this could be the most sensational of all, as the Spanish publication suggest that the two time F1 world champion was Red Bull's first choice to join Max Verstappen.

Alonso retired from F1 at the end of last season and has no current contract to race, leading to these reports.

Mundo Deportivo also suggest that Red Bull had been thinking of dropping the Frenchman since the Austrian Grand Prix, as he finished more than a lap behind race winner Verstappen.

Albon will make his Red Bull debut in Belgium in two weeks' time, with Gasly returning to Toro Rosso for the remaining nine races of the season.