Alonso fireworks predicted after joining Aston Martin 'family firm'

Ian Parkes
Wednesday 3 August 2022 11:40

The potential for fireworks has been predicted for when Fernando Alonso joins the 'Stroll family firm' at Aston Martin from next season.

Alonso stunned F1 and current team Alpine, in particular, when it was announced on Monday he had signed a multi-year agreement with Aston Martin.

Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer has confirmed to receiving assurances from Alonso, before the Spanish driver departed Budapest on Sunday evening, he had not signed with another team, only to discover the contrary via the press release.

Assessing the bombshell switch via his column on Sky, Brundle said: "It appears that Alpine couldn't or wouldn't offer Alonso a two-year deal, and his Aston Martin deal is officially described as multi-year.

"He's also been fairly underwhelmed at how punchy his team-mate Esteban Ocon has been towards him in combat at Alpine rather than turning all their guns on their rivals.

"Fernando is a force of nature on and off the track and he will push the team very hard.

"He's mellowed a little these days but there could easily be fireworks as he joins the Stroll family 'firm'.

"I remember interviewing Fernando on the 2018 Abu Dhabi grid and he was very convincing that it really was the end of his F1 career.

"But now he'll be on the grid until at least the end of 2024, at the age of 43, and with 400 F1 races under his right foot. Extraordinary."

Vettel "burned the candle hard"

Alonso replaces Sebastian Vettel, who will bring the curtain down on his F1 career at the end of this year after 16 seasons in the sport.

Brundle feels the time is right for Vettel to call it a day.

"It seems no time at all since he was a BMW Friday test driver and then on the grid for Toro Rosso looking like a fresh-faced uni student enjoying life some 15 years ago," remarked Brundle.

"He has won four world championships and 53 races, third on the all-time F1 list, and he remains the youngest-ever world champion. He may only be 35 but he's burned the candle hard.

"Sebastian is a true champion and a thoroughly good human being, and it was a pleasure to commentate on his career."

Brundle wonders, however, that without the platform of F1 whether Vettel's promotion of certain causes will be as impactful.

"Sebastian wants to pursue family life and no doubt some of the other global initiatives and causes he has championed in recent seasons," added Brundle.

"Whilst on the same day [as his retirement announcement] he launched an Instagram account which already has 2.1m followers, he will find it hard to maintain an awareness and springboard away from the global F1 stage because that game relentlessly looks forward.

"How often has anybody mentioned Kimi Raikkonen this year, for example?"