Mercedes technical guru Aldo Costa does not believe that Fernando Alonso will fit into the Mercedes team, instead the Italian suggests that the team looks at their junior drivers to promote to the most coveted cockpit in the sport.
Costa was shown the door after 16 years with Ferrari, many believe he was made a scapegoat in 2011 for the Italian team’s failings, but emerged shortly after as engineering director of the Silver Arrows.
Nevertheless, he spent his final two years at Ferrari with Fernando Alonso at Maranello and was asked by Speedweek for his thoughts about the Spaniard joining Mercedes in the wake of Nico Rosberg’s sudden decision to quit Formula 1.
Costa replied, “As a driver, Fernando is one of the greats. But outside of the car I never quite understood him. To me he was very hard to read, an enigmatic personality. I do not see him at Mercedes, I also see no reason why Hamilton should leave us.”
“We should focus on the young drivers that we have developed and promoted ourselves. I think we have two with a lot of potential. Pascal Wehrlein has a little more experience than Esteban Ocon, not least thanks to his test drives with Pirelli.”
“I think, Wehrlein would be one of the best options for the coming year. Many other candidates are compromised by existing contracts. We have to weigh it all against each other and then make a difficult decision,” explained Costa.
As for his position within the dominant Mercedes team, Costa was clear, “I feel very good at my present workplace with Mercedes-Benz. I’m at home here and have no intention of leaving. Since 2013, this team has grown steadily, thanks to an immeasurable amount of meticulous work.”
In 2014, 2015 and 2016, Costa was the design and engineering director of the all-conquering Mercedes W05, Mercedes W06 and Mercedes W07 which took Hamilton to two world titles and Rosberg to the big prize this year, while winning a hat-trick of constructors’ championships in the process.