Alonso on Wolff ’s wishlist
MARATHON runner Callum Hawkins has become the first Briton to be selected for next summer’s World Championships in London.
Hawkins, 24, who finished ninth at the Rio Olympics in only his third marathon, has had his place confirmed by British Athletics for August’s showpiece.
Eilish McColgan has won her appeal against omission from the National Lottery funding programme. The 5,000metres finalist in Rio has been added to British Athletics’ World Class Performance Programme and will receive second-tier podium potential funding. FERNANDO ALONSO would be on the list of possible replacements for retired world champion Nico Rosberg at Mercedes despite his contract with McLaren, according to team boss Toto Wolff.
“You have to consider Fernando,” Wolff told Sky Sports in an interview to be broadcast tomorrow. “He is a driver I respect a lot. He combines talent, speed and experience. It’s all there. But he is in a contract with McLaren-Honda at the moment and we need to weigh up all the other options.”
McLaren said on Monday that Alonso was happy with them and they were not worried about him leaving.
Rosberg stunned Formula One when he announced his retirement last week, five days after winning his first world title in Abu Dhabi.
The seat he leaves behind is the most coveted in the sport, with Mercedes winning 19 of 21 races this year and clinching both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles for the third season in succession.
While big names have been bandied about, all the top drivers are under contract with rival teams who are unlikely to countenance their departure for Mercedes.
Alonso, however, is out of contract at the end of 2017 and that has triggered speculation that Mercedes could opt for a stop-gap if they are serious about signing the 35-year-old Spaniard, who partnered Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in 2007.
Wolff said that whoever was signed would have the same terms as Hamilton. “Both drivers will have equal status and equal opportunity. You can’t have a pecking order,” he said. FORMER world No1 Novak Djokovic has parted ways with coach Boris Becker after three years of working together.
The Serbian won six Grand Slams after hiring Becker in 2014 but, after losing his No1 status to Britain’s Andy Murray this year, he said: “Boris Becker and I have jointly decided to end our co-operation.
“The goals we set when we started working together have been completely fulfilled and I want to thank him for his dedication and commitment.
“My professional plans are now directed to new goals next season.”