Aston Martin has announced that Fernando Alonso is to replace Sebastian Vettel in 2023, a move that will allow Oscar Piastri to race for Alpine.

Alonso will join Aston Martin on a multi-year contract and according to today's statement the whole company is very excited to bring his incredible experience and brilliant pace and race-craft to the team.

The recruitment of a special talent such as Fernando is a clear statement of intent from an organisation that has committed to developing a winning Formula One team.

"This Aston Martin team is clearly applying the energy and commitment to win," said the Spaniard, "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 organisation 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."

"I have known and admired Fernando for many years," added Lawrence Stroll, "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 organisation 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."

"I have witnessed the excitement in the engineering team and throughout the whole organisation at the opportunity to work with Fernando," said Mike Krack. "We know that nearly everyone can learn from someone of Fernando's calibre and experience. We are confident that he will inspire everyone to lift their game, and that will only enhance the already infectious energy that exists within the team. We are on a journey to create a winning organisation, and it is clear that Fernando will accelerate our progress and bring us to a performance in which we can take pride.

"We are delighted to have Fernando and Lance as our driver line-up next year - the combination of experience and youth will be incredibly strong and both drivers look forward to competing and working together. The team has a new leadership focused on the development of AMR23, and we are all thrilled that they and our future projects will benefit from the knowledge and experience that Fernando will bring."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 04/08/2022 1:12

"This conflict has all the hallmarks of a legal financial feast and the 'bewigged 'amongst us must be drooling with anticipation if the parties involved are committed to intransigence. If that is the case then a solution will only emerge over time and will not be solved in the immediate future.That would be a pity but not unusual. Looking forward to some possible news re the various subterfuges and just who is pulling all the strings now that prime interests and claims are laid bare! I've attended bullfights that have had distinct parallels...."

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2. Posted by ChickenFarmerF1, 03/08/2022 20:54

"@BrightonCorgi - yesterday's events would indicate otherwise. Though, who knows? If they did nudge Alonso out to make room for Piastri that backfired rather spectacularly and swiftly."

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3. Posted by equator180, 02/08/2022 4:17

"I had much respect for Vettel but for sure this is an upgrade for AM."

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4. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 01/08/2022 17:08

"Do you think it was polite suggestion by Alpine in order to make room for Piastri next season?"

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5. Posted by ChickenFarmerF1, 01/08/2022 15:44

"And now Alpine will move up well past AM. Wouldn’t be the first bad move Alonso has made. Not even the third. I wish him well but he has a special talent for jumping teams at precisely the wrong time."

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6. Posted by Chester, 01/08/2022 15:27

"A hard time by Ocon? More a hard time with a car with poor reliability.
But I agree that Otmar is better off trying with young gun Piastri for much less money.

Note that I said trying. Pisatri may just be another in a long line of drivers who do not pan out."

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7. Posted by Ted Baker, 01/08/2022 14:17

"Oh I forgot to add he will get a nice company car better than an Alpine!!!"

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8. Posted by Ted Baker, 01/08/2022 13:59

"Well am I being cynical or due to Alonso being given a really hard time by that "young gun" Ocon he decides he wants to transfer to another team where he believes he can potentially easily out score his team mate this time!! Lets face it Stroll Jnr is not in the same league as Ocon with only 4 points on the board where Ocon has 58. I expect Stroll Snr is paying him stupid money to get him where I expect Otmar will be laughing all the way to the bank, firstly saving a huge amount of money on salaries and recruiting a brilliant young driver like Piastri who I am sure will do a better job without the "baggage"!!!"

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9. Posted by Motorsport-fan, 01/08/2022 13:12

"I was right, should have had a bet on this one."

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10. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 01/08/2022 12:15

"If Alonso keeps with the momentum he's having now; this is an excellent move! AMF1 will needs more time before they can bring on the next young phenom. Alonso is a good bridge to that stage."

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11. Posted by Chester, 01/08/2022 12:01

"Not sure what Alonso sees at AM. Is it Audi in the wings?"

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12. Posted by kenji, 01/08/2022 11:35

"Whilst I am an advocate of 'older' drivers leaving and freeing up space for the nextgen I must say that I am pleased to hear that Alonso will be around for a couple of more years.He is still an exciting guy and his racecraft is pretty much as good as it comes. I am confident that he will shake up the AM order somewhat and that can't be all bad."

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13. Posted by mds167, 01/08/2022 10:04

"Fast-forward to 2025 and Charles Leclerc joins AM following a new injection of third-party cash and a 'committed programme of development with a clear view on how to reach the top step, disrupting the mainstream'.

I kind of hope not, I wish Alonso and the team well. I would love to see him fighting for wins. I am surprised at the move but there is no room for sentimentality in F1."

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14. Posted by BillH, 01/08/2022 9:50

"Alpine have made good gains over the past year yet Aston Martin have slipped down the pecking order.

Alonso sees something in AM that isn't obvious at least to me.

All the best to both parties and hopefully we see a competitive driver(s) in a competitive car."

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15. Posted by Spindoctor, 01/08/2022 8:32

"A man with an incredible knack of joining Teams which then deteriorate, or fail to live up to the hype...
I hope this isn't another misstep from Alonso. Let's hope that Aston Martin actually progresses from also-rans to at least "best of the rest" or that the salary is sufficiently inflated to minimise the pain....."

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Official: Alonso joins Aston Martin for 2023

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