Alonso's Aston move is a surprise that also makes sense

LONDON : Fernando Alonso's switch from Renault-owned Alpine to Formula One rivals Aston Martin in 2023 came as a surprise announcement on Monday but it also makes sense.

The speed of the deal was perhaps the biggest shock, with Aston Martin wasting no time in replacing one of the sport's greats, four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel, with another.

Vettel had announced his retirement at the end of the season last Thursday, triggering immediate speculation about his replacement.

Double world champion Alonso figured highly on that list, given that the Spaniard had yet to agree a deal to continue with Alpine, despite the oldest driver on the grid turning 41 last Friday.

Alpine have 21-year-old Australian reserve Oscar Piastri, a driver who has won a string of junior titles at the first attempt including last year's Formula Two championship, knocking on the door.

Team boss Laurent Rossi had spoken last month of possibly loaning Piastri, who is highly-rated but still with much to learn, to another team for a year.

Alonso, he indicated, could then be switched to the Alpine endurance effort.

The Spaniard wanted a longer term deal, however, and was unlikely to accept a secondary stand-in role essentially keeping a seat warm for someone else after a season where he has kept team mate Esteban Ocon on his toes.

Aston Martin's swoop, making clear he was their first choice, will have convinced him this is a team that means business even if they are still a long way from the podium.

At Aston Martin he gets certainty, with a doubtless highly lucrative multi-year contract, and a last spin of the wheel with a team that will benefit from his experience and reputation as they build for the future.

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