Fernando Alonso to replace Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin

Just as Formula One heads into the summer break, the drivers market has got its first move. Aston Martin have announced that double World Champion Fernando Alonso will be joining the team from the 2023 season onwards on a multi-year contract. 

Alonso will be replacing Sebastian Vettel, who announced last week that he would be retiring from the sport at the end of the ongoing season.

Alonso, who joined Alpine in 2021 after a two-year break, has been one of the best in the business since his return, and it’s no surprise that the Silverstone-based team decided to go for the experienced Spaniard. The multi-year contract also signifies Alonso’s faith in the team’s long-term goal. Despite turning 41 just days ago, he still seems to be hungry and raring to go for at least a couple more seasons. 

Speaking about his move, Fernando Alonso commented:

“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 One today. 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 One.

“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 One 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. 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.

“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.“

Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman, Aston Martin Formula One team, stated:

“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.“

Mike Krack, Team Principal, Aston Martin Formula One team, added:

“I have witnessed the excitement in the engineering team and throughout the whole organisation at the opportunity to work with Fernando. We know that nearly everyone can learn from someone of Fernando’s calibre and experience. We are confident that he will inspire everyone to lift their game, and that will only enhance the already infectious energy that exists within the team.

“We are on a journey to create a winning organisation, and it is clear that Fernando will accelerate our progress and bring us to a performance in which we can take pride. We are delighted to have Fernando and Lance as our driver line-up next year – the combination of experience and youth will be incredibly strong and both drivers look forward to competing and working together.

“The team has a new leadership focused on the development of AMR23, and we are all thrilled that they and our future projects will benefit from the knowledge and experience that Fernando will bring.“

The news of Alonso joining Aston Martin will also kick-start the silly season and transfer rumours, with Alpine’s reserve driver Oscar Piastri already tipped to replace Alonso at the French team.