He ended Michael Schumacher's title era more than a decade and a half ago, now he will succeed Sebastian Vettel. Fernando Alonso can't get enough of Formula 1 even at the age of 41.
The two-time champion has signed a multi-year contract with Aston Martin. After this season he switched from the French Alpine team to the British racing team.
"Bang in Formula 1," wrote the Spanish sports newspaper "Marca". "No one in the paddock expected that," said "As". Vettel only announced on July 28 that he would end his career at the age of 35 after this season.
Alonso still ambitious
Alonso is far from finished. "I still have the hunger and ambition to fight at the top," said the Spaniard. More than two decades ago, in March 2001, he celebrated his debut in the premier class of motorsport. After a year at Minardi, he went to Renault. With the French manufacturer he beat Michael Schumacher in Ferrari in 2005 and 2006. The move to McLaren followed.
There, however, the proud Spaniard fought a poisoned team fight with the then newcomer Lewis Hamilton. Kimi Raikkonen benefited from the Stallzoff when he won the 2007 Ferrari World Championship. Alonso returned to Renault after just one season, before moving to Ferrari in 2010.
But it was Vettel's wedding in the Red Bull, Alonso lost the title fight year after year. In 2010, 2012 and 2013 he was Vice World Champion. From 2015, Alonso's hopes of returning to the World Cup throne were not fulfilled even during his second McLaren time. After a two-year break from Formula 1, he returned to Renault's successor Alpine in 2021. The 32-time Grand Prix winner is currently tenth in the World Championship. He is still considered one of the fastest and most talented pilots in the field.
It is now also clear that Mick Schumacher's options for the coming year remain manageable. His contract with Haas is about to expire. Aston Martin was considered a possible alternative. At Alpine, the 21-year-old Australian Oscar Piastri should have the best chance of taking the vacant cockpit.
