Mercedes needs an elite driver to replace Lewis Hamilton in 2025.

Fans believe they already know who is taking the prestigious open Formula One spot, with Hamilton set to leap to Ferrari.

Flavio Briatore, the manager for Fernando Alonso, was recently spotted having breakfast with smiling Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

Connections were instantly made on social media, with savvy F1 fans asserting that Alonso would soon leave Aston Martin behind and replace Hamilton at Mercedes.

Hamilton stunned F1 fans across the globe on February 2 when it was revealed that he would be joining Charles Leclerc in Ferrari red for the 2025 season.

"What y’all doing, negotiating the champion car for Alonso in 2025?" one fan commented.

"THINGS ARE HAPPENING," a second fan posted.

"What were you guys talking about?" a third fan wrote.

"Fernando to Mercedes," a fourth fan said