Alonso to replace Vettel at Aston Martin F1 | GRR
Fernando Alonso will leave Alpine at the end of the 2022 F1 season to join Aston Martin on a “multi-year” deal, replacing fellow former champion Sebastian Vettel.
Alonso’s move, to join a team he says is “clearly applying the energy and commitment to win”, would leave a position at Alpine open for 2023, which is widely expected to be filled by 2021 F2 champion Oscar Piastri.
After Sebastian Vettel announced his retirement in an Instagram post last week, Alonso hinted over the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend that his future was already sorted for the coming season. It had been expected that Alonso would stick with Alpine, but move into the company’s Le Mans Hypercar programme for 2024, but that seems in doubt after the Aston Martin announcement.
Just like Vettel’s move to Aston Martin, Alonso’s switch seems to have been arranged quickly, following talks with team owner Lawrence Stroll.
“This Aston Martin team is clearly applying the energy and commitment to win, and it is therefore one of the most exciting teams in Formula 1 today,” said Alonso in a statement.
“I have known Lawrence and Lance for many years and it is very obvious that they have the ambition and passion to succeed in Formula 1. I have watched as the team has systematically attracted great people with winning pedigrees, and I have become aware of the huge commitment to new facilities and resources at Silverstone.
“No one in Formula 1 today is demonstrating a greater vision and absolute commitment to winning, and that makes it a really exciting opportunity for me. I still have the hunger and ambition to fight to be at the front, and I want to be part of an organisation that is committed to learn, develop and succeed.
“The passion and desire to perform that I have witnessed convince me to maintain my enjoyment and commitment to the sport.
“I intend to win again in this sport and therefore I have to take the opportunities that feel right to me.”
It also continues Aston Martin’s policy of recruiting an established driver to partner Lance Stroll, having signed Vettel for its first season as Aston Martin in 2021.
Speaking about the move Aston Martin Executive Chairman, Stroll said: “I have known and admired Fernando for many years and it has always been clear that he is a committed winner like me.
"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."
Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.