Fernando Alonso, double world champion in 2005 and 2006, will leave the Alpine team to race in 2023 with Aston Martin. The Spaniard will succeed in the English team, owned by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, the German Sebastian Vettel, who announced his retirement at the end of the 2022 season.
Alonso, who celebrated his 41st birthday on Friday, finished 8th on Sunday in the Hungarian Grand Prix, ahead of his French teammate Esteban Ocon, and currently sits 10th in the World Championship after 13 out of 22 races with 41 points.
“The whole Aston Martin team is very excited to welcome Fernando’s incredible experience, brilliant burst of speed and racing expertise.”writes the English team in a press release.
This team “is clearly putting in the energy and commitment it takes to win, so it’s one of the most exciting teams in Formula 1 today.”writes Alonso. “I have known Lawrence and Lance (his son, the team’s other driver) for a long time and it is obvious that they have the ambition and the passion to succeed in Formula 1”adds the Spanish champion.
afp/jbal
Posted at 10:29 Amended at 10:47