Aston Martin have signed Fernando Alonso from Alpine for 2023 F1 season.
Alonso who won 2005 & 06 titles with Renault returned to F1 last season with Alpine after a two-season sabbatical, and has gone on to amass 122 points in 35 races since his return including a podium in Qatar last season.
Confirmation of Alonso’s move comes days after Sebastian Vettel announced he would retire at end of this season, with Aston Martin also clarifying that Lance Stroll will remain at the team next season for a fifth season – having previously raced under their Racing Point name in 2019 & 20.
“This Aston Martin team is clearly applying the energy and commitment to win,” commented Alonso on his decision to join Aston Martin as he praised their “ambition and passion to succeed” in the sport.
Alonso went on to acknowledge Aston Martin’s long-term vision who have recruited Martin Whitmarsh amongst several fresh employees, with the Spaniard having previously worked with Whitmarsh at McLaren in 2007.
Reflecting on Aston Martin’s plans for the future and why he has joined the team, Alonso commented: “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.”
Executive Chairman, Lawrence Stroll added that Alonso “is a committed winner” with 32 F1 victories to his name, describing the move to replace Vettel with another ex champion as a “natural” step.
Team Principal, Mike Krack iterated that he expects the team to benefit from Alonso’s “calibre and experience” with the Spaniard having started 346 of his 349 F1 entries since he first arrived in 2001 with Minardi.
Krack went on to state his belief that Alonso can help ” accelerate our progress and bring us to a performance in which we can take pride.”
Alonso will partner Stroll next season which Krack is “delighted” about as he explained: “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.”
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