Alonso confident he’s made a s-mart move

DOUBLE world champion Fernando Alonso will join Aston Martin’s Formula One team next season.

The 41-year-old replaces Sebastian Vettel after the German announced his retirement last week.

Alonso, who won two titles for Renault in 2005 and 2006, has agreed a multi-year deal with the British team.

The Spaniard, who returned to the grid with French team Alpine in 2021 after two years away, is set to partner Lance Stroll, the son of Aston Martin’s billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll.

Alonso said: “This Aston Martin team is clearly applying the energy and commitment to win and it is therefore one of the most exciting teams in Formula One today. “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.” Alonso (inset), 10th in the drivers’ standings, added: “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. “I intend to win again in this sport and therefore I have to take the opportunities that feel right to me.”

Alonso’s hire will be seen as a major coup for Aston Martin.

The Silverstone-based team are only seventh of 10 in the constructors’ standings following Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

But ambitious owner Stroll was keen to land another big-name signing after setting out a five-year plan for his team to be world champions.

Stroll said: “I have known and admired Fernando for many years and it has always been clear that he is a committed winner like me.

“It seemed natural therefore to invite Fernando to be part of the development of a winning team.”

Highly-rated Aussie Oscar Piastri, 21, is in line to fill Alonso’s vacant seat at Alpine.