Alonso says Alpine contract disagreement lasted 'two months'

F1

Fernando Alonso has revealed an impasse was reached between himself and Alpine in contract negotiations before his switch to Aston

Alpine-F1-driver-Fernando-Alonso

Alonso has alluded to disagreements between himself and Alpine over his contract extension

Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Fernando Alonso has alluded to unrest between himself and Alpine before he signed for Aston Martin, saying negotiations became stuck “for a couple of months”.

The Spaniard and Aston announced a surprising link-up the morning after the Hungarian GP, just four days after its current driver Sebastian Vettel had announced his retirement, after Alonso had widely been expected to renew with Alpine

Speaking for the first time since news emerged, Alonso revealed just how quickly the deal came together, and shed some light on why he decided to leave Enstone.

“I had the phone call from Aston after Sebastian announced that he was stopping at the end of the year,” he revealed.

Fernando Alonso walks next to Sebastian Vettel

Alonso / Aston negotiations began as soon as Vettel announced his departure

Xavi Bonilla/DPPI

“At that point we sat down and we got to this agreement. I think the project is very attractive. Obviously there is a lot of investment going on in the last few years. A lot of new people came to the team, very talented engineers, designers, new facilities in Silverstone.

“They were extremely happy to join forces and to have this possibility to grow up together. We felt that it was the right thing to do.”

After highlighting the lure of Aston, Alonso revealed that an impasse had been reached in his contract negotiations Alpine, implying there had been a disagreement between the two parties.

Related article

2023 F1 driver line-ups: latest contract updates
F1

2023 F1 driver line-ups: latest contract updates

Formula 1's 2023 driver line-ups: here's a full run-down of the drivers racing in the current season, including AlphaTauri's mid-season changes that have brought a return for Daniel ricciardo and debut for Liam Lawson

By Motor Sport

“It was a strange feeling. For one reason or another, we were not moving forward for a couple of months already and it seems it was a logical move to me, because Aston was very willing to have me and trust on my abilities on the track and off track, as well to develop the project.

“In my case also, it felt that after all the negotiations and the months, having the seat available for a younger driver and [a] talented driver like Oscar [Piastri] was the right thing to do and a win-win situation seems for everybody.”

There has been speculation the Spaniard wanted a more secure long-term contract than the French team were willing to give him, but Alonso said there was more than that behind his decision to make the switch.

“We were moving around in different things and we were not maybe agreeing on on the principles,” he said.

“It’s not only the what you agree in terms of duration of the contract, it’s also the trust that you feel and how you feel wanted in a place.

Alpine-F1-driver-Fernando-Alonso-racing-at-the-2022-Miami-GP

Alonso has elected to jump ship to Aston because “they seem to really want me”

Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

“I felt that it was the right decision to move to Aston because they seem to really want me.”

Alonso also revealed that he hadn’t told Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer that he was leaving prior to the announcement, who had said his first knowledge of it was when he read Aston’s press release.

“It’s true, Otmar probably didn’t know anything,” said Alonso. “But I informed [Alpine CEO] Laurent Rossi, President [Renault CEO] Luca de Meo, my mechanics, my engineers, before any announcement – all the people that were involved in the negotiations. Otmar was not involved in the negotiations.”