Alpine team manager formula one, Otmar Szafnauerfound out about the Spanish signing Fernando Alonso through Aston-Martin only when he read the official press release, he assured this Tuesday in a meeting with the media.
Two-time F1 world champion Alonso has signed a multi-year deal with Aston Martin from 2023, taking the wheel from the German. Sebastian Vettelwho last week announced his retirement at the end of the World Cup.
Alonso’s decision to join Aston Martin surprised Szafnauer, who believes that Alpine, owned by Renaultwill sign a new contract with the 41-year-old pilot.
“This is the first confirmation I have,” Szafnauer told reporters on Zoom. “Obviously when we’re in the paddock, there are rumors, and I’ve heard rumors that Aston is interested,” he said.
“When you hear they’re interested, there’s probably conversations that have taken place, but I’m sure we were very close” to a renewal that didn’t happen.
“So yes, my first confirmation was the press release. I did ask (Alonso). And he told me: ‘No, no, I didn’t sign anything’. So I was a little surprised,” he acknowledged after learning of the move.
Szafnauer said Alpine had offered Alonso a contract extension that would have guaranteed him a seat for the 2023 season with an option to extend it by another year.
“We offered him a one-plus-one deal. And Fernando and I talked about: ‘Look, if next year at this moment you perform at the same level, of course we accept you and can continue that.'” He added.
“But I think he wants more certainty regardless of performance: ‘I want to stay longer.’ And I think that’s the point of going one and one instead of two and one or three and one or three years.”
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
