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Two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso signs shock multi-year contract with Aston Martin as the Spaniard replaces the retiring Sebastian Vettel in the team’s line up from 2023
- Fernando Alonso is out of contract with Alpine at the end of this season
- The French team had stated that they were keen to keep the Spaniard into 2023
- But Aston Martin have now swooped to sign Alonso, who turned 41 last week
- Alonso described his new team as ‘one of the most exciting’ in F1 right now
Two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso has agreed a multi-year contract with Aston Martin from 2023.
The Spaniard, 41, is out of contract at current team Alpine at the end of this season but they had stated that they were keen to keep him.
However Aston Martin, who are lose the retiring Sebastian Vettel at the end of the year, have now swooped to sign Alonso.
Fernando Alonso, 41, has agreed a surprise multi-year contract with Aston Martin from 2023
‘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,’ Alonso said.
‘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.’
Alonso’s returned to F1 with Alpine last year but his contract expires at the end of this season
‘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.’
2023 will be Alonso’s 22nd season in Formula One, while Aston Martin will be the sixth team that he has represented.
The Spaniard won back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 while representing Renault
Alonso will fill the spot left in Aston Martin’s roster left by the retiring Sebastian Vettel
After debuting in 2001 with Minardi, the 41-year-old won back-to-back titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006 and has also driven for McLaren and Ferrari.
Alonso retired from F1 at the end of 2018 but after a two-year absence he returned with Alpine and finished 10th in the drivers’ championship last year – achieving a podium finish in Qatar.
‘I have witnessed the excitement in the engineering team and throughout the whole organisation at the opportunity to work with Fernando,’ Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack said.
Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack says that ‘everyone can learn’ from the veteran driver
‘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.’
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