UNITED KINGDOM: Fernando Alonso, a two-time champion, will begin driving for Aston Martin in 2023 under a multi-year contract.
Recently, German driver Sebastian Vettel announced his retirement at the end of this year. Vettel will be replaced by the 41-year-old Spaniard, who has competed for Alpine since 2021.
Alonso, who won the F1 championship in 2005 and 2006, made a comeback to the sport in 2021 after competing elsewhere for two years.
“I still have the hunger and ambition to fight to be at the front,” Alonso said.
“Aston Martin is clearly applying the energy and commitment to win and it is therefore one of the most exciting teams in F1 today.”
“No-one in F1 today is demonstrating a greater vision and absolute commitment to winning, and that makes it a really exciting opportunity for me.”
“I want to be part of an organisation that is committed to learn, develop and succeed.’
“We all appreciate that there is much to be done to get to the front, and that we must apply all our energies in working together to find performance.
“I intend to win again in this sport and therefore I have to take the opportunities that feel right to me.”
Alonso’s stint with Alpine
This unexpected move is a setback for Alpine, as Alonso has been outperforming teammate Estasban Ocon this year while trailing the Frenchman in the championship due to a string of mechanical issues.
At the French Grand Prix ten days previously, Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi stated that the team was “discussing with [Alonso] and building scenarios for him”.
“Fernando is a legend of the sport, but also a legend of the Renault group. For us, he is the champion,” Rossi added.
According to reports in Formula One, there was a snag in the contract length negotiations between Alpine and Alonso because the driver wanted a fixed two-year deal and the team preferred an option provision after the 2019 season.
Although Aston Martin wanted Alonso to join the team and had given him a contract for the following year, they had also held informal exploratory talks with Vettel in case the four-time champion decided to leave.
Aston Martin moved swiftly after Vettel announced his retirement.
Alonso has likely agreed to a two- or three-year contract with options after each year that provides him with greater security than Alpine was willing to give him.
Alonso’s performance will suffer as a result of the switch because Alpine is now performing far better than Aston Martin.
Aston is also constructing a brand-new, cutting-edge factory at their Silverstone headquarters.
The design and race team will move into the first stage of it by the spring of next year, before two further buildings, including a wind tunnel, come on stream later.
Aston Martin team owner and executive chairman Lawrence Stroll said, “I have set out to bring together the best people and develop the right resources and organisation to succeed in this highly competitive sport, and those plans are now taking shape at Silverstone.”
“It seemed natural therefore to invite Fernando to be part of the development of a winning team, and we very quickly established in our recent conversations that we have the same ambitions and values, and it was logical and easy to confirm our desire to work together.”
Alonso’s teammate in 2023 will be Stroll’s son Lance.
Also Read: World Champion Sebastian Vettel to Retire from F1 at the End of 2022
