F1 | Fernando Alonso to replace retiring Vettel at Aston Martin in 2023

The 41-year-old former world champion Fernando Alonso will join Aston Martin, replacing Sebastian Vettel who announced his retirement last week

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso will extend his Formula One career by joining Aston Martin next season.

The 41-year-old Spaniard will replace Sebastian Vettel, who announced his retirement last week. Alonso's contract with Alpine was ending this season. Aston Martin said Monday that it signed Alonso to a multi-year deal.

“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 said of Aston Martin. “I still have the hunger and ambition to fight to be at the front, and I want to be part of an organization that is committed to learn, develop and succeed.”

Alonso will be going into his 20th season in F1. He won his titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006. He took two years off in 2019 and 2020 to race in other series, including runs at the Indy 500.

“I have witnessed the excitement in the engineering team and throughout the whole organization at the opportunity to work with Fernando," Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack said. “We know that nearly everyone can learn from someone of Fernando's calibre and experience. We are confident that he will inspire everyone to lift their game.”

Aston Martin, whose other driver is Lance Stroll, son of owner Lawrence Stroll, is only ninth in the 10-team constructors' standings this season.

Alonso said he knows Lance and Lawrence well and they share the same “ambition and passion to succeed" in F1.