After two seasons with Alpine, he is heading to the other side of the Channel. At the end of the contract with the French manufacturer, Fernando Alonso, double Formula 1 world champion in 2005 and 2006, will race for Aston Martin in 2023, the English team announced in a press release on Monday August 1. (in English).
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The 41-year-old Spaniard is currently in 10th place in the world championship after 13 out of 22 races. He finished 8th on Sunday in the Hungarian Grand Prix, ahead of his French teammate Esteban Ocon.
The Spaniard will replace German Sebastian Vettel in the English stable of Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll. The four-time world champion announced his retirement from F1 on Thursday at the end of the season.
NEWS: @AstonMartinF1 announces Fernando Alonso for 2023.
We are delighted to confirm that two-time #F1 World Champion @alo_official will join the team from next season on a multi-year contract.
Tap below to read more. #WeClimbTogether
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) August 1, 2022
“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. The recruitment of a special talent like Fernando’s is a strong statement of intent from an organization committed to developing a winning Formula 1 team.”
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”said Alonso on his social networks. I know Lawrence and Lance [le fils du propriétaire, qui est l’autre pilote de l’écurie] for a long time and it is obvious that they have the ambition and the passion to succeed in Formula 1.”
It is the sixth F1 team in Alonso’s career after Minardi, Renault (twice), McLaren (twice), Ferrari and Alpine. It remains to be seen who will take the place left vacant by the Spanish champion at Alpine. The transfer market is now wide open.