F1, Fernando Alonso: background on the negotiation with Aston Martin

He will flank Lance Stroll

Formula 1’s summer break opened with the announcement of Fernando Alonso’s move to Aston Martin starting in 2023. The Spaniard will thus be Sebastian Vettel’s replacement.

Returning to F1 in 2021, Alonso will thus leave the Alpine team at the end of the season to move to the Mercedes-powered team where he will join Lance Stroll. A negotiation born already a few weeks ago, as pointed out by Auto Motor und Sport, and accelerated in the last hours with the announcement of Sebastian Vettel’s retirement.

The backstory concerns Vettel himself, whom Aston Martin had asked to make a quick decision on whether or not to continue his career. The four-time world champion said enough and so the Silverstone team was able to close with Alonso, who signed a multi-year contract.

Alpine had only offered him a deal through 2023, so Alonso decided to make a change. With his announcement now in the French team could come young Oscar Piastri, F2 champion in 2021, alongside Esteban Ocon.