Eternal Formula 1 driver Alonso replaces Vettel at Aston Martin

The surprises shortly before the summer break in Formula 1 have not yet come to an end with Max Verstappen’s triumph on Sunday at the Hungarian Grand Prix from tenth place on the grid. After the 13th World Championship round, the Dutchman is already half a world champion with a lead of 80 points. But Verstappen’s eighth win of the season was eclipsed by the Personnel of the Year on Monday: Fernando Alonso will replace Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin in 2023.

After Vettel announced his resignation at the end of the season, a multi-year contract with his successor was fixed within just four days. This suggests that the previous Alpine driver had already contacted Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll in a poker game about extending his contract with his French employer. Alpine was taken by surprise, because Alonso behaves as consistently at the negotiating table as he does on the race track: if he sees a gap, he mercilessly pushes into it.

Alonso’s salary is still world champion high

Vettel’s resignation played into Alonso’s hands, because at Alpine it was all about the salary. That should be over 30 million francs and is still world champion, although Alonso’s second and last title win was 16 years ago. The Spaniard, who turned 41 on Friday, is considered a difficult character. His ego is big, but his capacity and passion are still enormous.

At Aston Martin, Alonso sees the necessary energy to move forward again at an advanced age as a racing driver. “No one else in Formula 1 has a greater vision and commitment to victory than Aston Martin,” he said. What is particularly exciting, however, is how the alpha animal Lawrence Stroll gets along with the alpha animal Fernando Alonso.

Stroll has always particularly admired two Formula 1 drivers: Michael Schumacher and Alonso. That’s why it was easy for the Canadian, according to his own statements, to get down to business. The common mission is to form and lead a winning team. It shouldn’t fail because of experience. Four more races and Alonso will be the premier class record holder with 351 Grand Prix appearances.

A roundabout of the old masters

Like Vettel, Alonso no longer wants to torture himself in midfield. There is even still the dream of a third world title – and that of finally leading a team to the top. Aston Martin is currently only penultimate in the team classification. After huge investments in the infrastructure and the personnel in the technical departments, Aston Martin has now also managed a coup in the driver market. Alpine shouldn’t be too sad about Alonso’s departure as there is now a vacancy for Australian talent Oscar Piastri.

It is Alonso’s second attempt to help a racing team to the top. During Renault’s heyday, he was just a chauffeur who had to do what his manager Flavio Briatore wanted. Alonso wanted to emancipate himself from this when he switched to Ferrari in 2010. But with all the passion on both sides, Alonso despaired of opponent Vettel in the Red Bull car for five years. The Asturian also failed because of the Italian conditions, as did Sebastian Vettel in the five years that followed. Alonso is now his successor. A roundabout of the old masters.