In the space of a few days, the 2023 driver market has been turned upside down.
It all started with Sebastian Vettel announcing his retirement ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix before Fernando Alonso surprised his Alpine team by confirming he would move to Aston Martin as Vettel’s replacement the day after the race. Alpine reacted by naming Oscar Piastri as Alonso’s replacement the day after, only for Piastri to deny he will drive for the team in 2023 the same evening.
To unpack the madness, we look at the events that led to a chaotic 24 hours for the Alpine F1 team.
July 28
After several weeks of speculation, Vettel announces his retirement from Formula One at the end of the 2023 season. In the hours after the news breaks the focus, quite rightly, is on the four-time world champion, but the question of who will replace him can’t be ignored. Vettel says he’d like it to be his good friend Mick Schumacher, but it seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso, whose contract is up with Alpine at the end of the year, seems like the dream choice for Aston Martin.
After Vettel’s news breaks, Alonso tells reporters his “priority is with Alpine” but adds “all the teams are an option as long as they don’t have two drivers signed.”
Tellingly he adds: “From the beginning of the summer break, it will be the point I need to sit down and conclude something. The summer break starts on Monday.”
July 29-31
F1’s focus switches back to the track for the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, but Alonso is seen entering the Aston Martin motorhome in the paddock.
Alpine team principal, Otmar Szafnauer, is among those who sees the visit but understands Alonso may just be exploring his options.
The day after Alonso is confirmed at Aston Martin, Szafnauer told the BBC: “I was confident even with the discussions [between Alonso and Aston Martin] — there is nothing wrong with exploring — and that we were very close [to a deal]. I did ask the question, but I was told ‘no I haven’t signed anything’. So I was a bit surprised.”
August 1
Aston Martin confirms Alonso has signed for 2023 as Vettel’s replacement. While Alonso was an obvious candidate, the speed of the news is a surprise, not least for Alpine and Szafnauer who found out via Aston Martin’s press release.
Alonso had been in talks with Alpine about extending his contract but only for a single year with an option for the team to extend to a…
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