What does the signing of Alonso by Aston Martin mean?
Fernando Alonso will race for the Aston Martin team from the 2023 season onwards. Yes, you have to believe it: the British team announced the news this Monday at 10:00 in the morning, just a couple of days after the Spaniard said that the negotiations to renew with Alpine should not last more than ten minutes.
When Sebastian Vettel announced his retirement last Thursday, few of us thought about the option of Alonso replacing him. It was understood that the German driver was leaving Formula 1 – among other personal reasons – due to the lack of potential in the formation led by Lawrence Stroll, otherwise he might not have retired.
For this reason, it seemed difficult for Alonso to leave Alpine, which is in fourth place in the Constructors’ World Championship, to join the team that is now in ninth position in the championship. It seemed more logical, for example, that Mick Schumacher replace his mentor to grow outside the orbit of Haas. Or even pick up Nico Hülkenberg.
And, suddenly, Alonso signs for Aston Martin
So it has been. When we thought that the only doubt about the future of Fernando Alonso was whether the Spaniard would extend his contract with Alpine for one or two seasons, suddenly, the two-time champion has decided to start a new project at the age of 41, 21 after his debut in the category queen with the Minardi team.
Sebastian Vettel was always the first choice to occupy the only free seat at Aston Martin – the other belongs to Lance Stroll, son of the owner -, but when the German announced his retirement, the team went to work to find a replacement for the height. Although Vettel’s recommendation was Mick, a brand like Aston Martin had to find a good ambassador.
Lawrence Stroll had been interested in Alonso’s services on numerous occasions, and seeing that with Alpine things were stagnant both personally (at least that’s how it looks from the outside) and sporting, he went all out for the Asturian. Within days, the deal has been closed and announced.
There never seemed to be a great harmony between Alonso and Alpine, and the members of the team left us some clues. For example, Luca de Meo, head of the Renault Group, did not take Alonso’s continuity for granted in the Spanish GP, assuring that a seat had to be found for his three drivers: Alonso, Ocon and Piastri.
Now, Alpine is left with two drivers with a lower salary, but with media potential radically lower than that of Alonso… and with a performance to be discovered. While Ocon has shown speed – albeit regularly less than Alonso when he’s not struggling – Piastri has yet to start a single F1 race.
Illusion or disappointment?
Alonso’s statements in the statement announcing his signing for Aston Martin seem to be full of hints towards his still team, Alpine.
“I want to be part of a team committed to learning, evolving and succeeding. We are all aware that much remains 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 win that I have seen convinces me to maintain my enjoyment and commitment to this sport. I intend to win again in this sport and therefore I have to take the opportunities that seem right to me.” said the Asturian.
In Alpine, especially after the arrival of Otmar Szafnauer to the team leadership, Alonso seems not to have felt too comfortable nor in agreement with the team’s strategies or decisions on the track. Judging by his words, perhaps he did not feel listened to by those responsible for the team either… or they did not comply with his wishes regarding the extension of the contract.
Aston Martin, for its part, is investing a lot of money to be competitive in Formula 1. Not only does it have a millionaire owner, Lawrence Stroll, but it also has the investment of Aramco, the Saudi Arabian state oil company. They have also hired engineers from rival teams, such as Red Bull or Mercedes.
With all this, the manufacturer has decided to renovate its facilities in Silverstone, including the wind tunnel, and sign managers of the stature of Mike Krack (team manager) or Martin Whitmarsh (CEO of Aston Martin Performance Technologies).
Alonso coincided with Whitmarsh at McLaren in 2007, and could have been key in the signing of the two-time world champion. Pedro de la Rosa, who is a good friend of both, has given his blessing to the signing of Alonso: “I like this team”, the Catalan has published on Twitter.
It is impossible to know where Aston Martin will be next season. Now they are very far from what Alonso is looking for, but the differences between teams are small and, working in the right direction, they can fight Alpine.
The first thing, which is to have a team for the next few years and a multi-year contract in his possession, Alonso already has it. He now has to get down to work to get back to being as high as possible. Delusion? Certainly more than disappointment, especially seeing the decisions of Alpine in recent times.