The whole company is very excited to bring Fernando’s incredible experience and brilliant pace and racecraft to the team.
The recruitment of a special talent such as Fernando is a clear statement of intent from an organization that has committed to developing a winning Formula One team.
Fernando Alonso
“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.
“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.”
“I still have the hunger and ambition to fight to be at the front, and I want to be part of an organization 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.”
Lawrence Stroll (Executive Chairman)
“I have known and admired Fernando for many years and it has always been clear that he is a committed winner like me.
“I have set out to bring together the best people and develop the right resources and organization to succeed in this highly competitive sport, and those plans are now taking shape at Silverstone.
“It seemed natural therefore to invite Fernando to be part of the development of a winning team, and we very quickly established in our recent conversations that we have the same ambitions and values, and it was logical and easy to confirm our desire to work together.”
Alpine said:
We wish Fernando the best for his future in Formula 1. Fernando has always been, and always will be, part of the Renault and Alpine family and we’re proud and privileged to have shared so many on-track moments together.
We look forward to finishing the remainder of the 2022 season with Fernando in blue, and we’ll keep pushing to the maximum until the final lap in November.
The team will announce its driver line-up for the 2023 Formula 1 season in due course.
Our Thoughts:
At first blush, I would say that Fernando is a good fit with regards to car development and understanding where the car is. Sebastian Vettel, I am sorry to say, seemed to have checked out a while ago if I’m honest. The consistency wasn’t there from him and I’m not sure how well he and Lance got along.
Alonso will be more consistent but again, I am not sure how well he and Lance will get along. Fernando doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who will play well with someone’s kid. He tends to devour teammates and Lawrence won’t like that kind of relationship.
Lawrence needs to read the tea leaves because his team isn’t going to be a serious operation until they get their chassis sorted and stop insisting Lance is the number one driver and is world champion material. He’s a good driver but not at that caliber. No offense but neither am…although I’m not buying an F1 team and pretending I am.
As for Alonso, I reckon Alpine were playing hard with the length or compensation level of their contract and Fernando got tired of it. I would argue the deal was done before Sebastian announced his retirement and it was probably a catalyst for Sebastian leaving but that’s just a hunch.
Time will tell but it will be interesting to see how much Fernando takes Lance under his wing. Lance seems a prickly character—he may be a delightful guy, I don’t know—and we know Fernando can be a prickly character so it’ll be interesting to see if this pans out.
I suspect that what FA wanted to be paid and what Alpine wanted to pay him were quite different, plus Alpine are keen to get Piastri in.
I guess the Strolls have a bigger cheque book.
Oh but it’s going to be fun to watch Fernando and Lance be team mates!
Lewis to Aston in 2 years time, followed by Max in 8 years. Let keep the trend alive.
Aston only want ex world champions
Lance has a WDC!?!?
One better. his Dad owns the team.
Lance will be the first Driver/Team Principal
…and so, the Silly Season begins. Who’s going to replace Alonso at Alpine? Do the dominoes stop falling there?
I’d like to see Danny Ric back there.
Ouch!
“despite being informed by Alonso on the Sunday night of the Hungarian Grand Prix that everything looked set to be sorted out by the lawyers, Szafnauer said he was shocked when he read Aston Martin’s announcement on Monday.”
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/alpine-only-learned-alonso-had-joined-aston-martin-f1-in-press-release/10347633/
I wonder if Stroll & Co. actually believe that Lance will outperform these WDC’s when the machinery matches the ambition. Or will that be the time when they’ll trade a Latiffi to the team, so as to not outmatch the prodigal son? Sorry Lance, but if you compare someone like George, Max, LeClerk to your skill set; they’re on a level one step higher. Not that it can’t be developed, but as far as raw talent goes, it ain’t there. ~X8