Fernando Alonso has said that he almost switched to Mercedes last year in a move that would have involved Lewis Hamilton replacing him at Ferrari.

As it became clear during the 2014 season that all was not well with Alonso and Ferrari's relationship, rumours emerged that the Maranello team and Mercedes might do a sensational driver swap.

"It was tried. Yes, yes, there was this offer," Alonso told Cadena Ser radio.

"There were the circumstances for this idea but in that moment Ferrari didn't want it. We were in full negotiations to renew with me until 2019, so in the end Ferrari did not convince me and I went to McLaren-Honda.

"I don't know if Hamilton knew about it."

As for why he didn't stick around at Ferrari to reap the fruits of the team's current resurgence, the 34-year-old explained: "I did not want to stay at Ferrari to be third until 2019.

"They were changing times at Ferrari and I still say that it was the right moment to close a wonderful story for me."

The new Formula 1 season starts in Melbourne in three weeks' time.