Alonso and Aston Martin deal done in a day: 'Easy decision'

Fernando Alonso seems happier than ever. With Aston Martin, the Spaniard has been on the podium four times already this season. Alonso did not manage to pick up a win with the British team (yet), but at first glance, Aston Martin seems to be the main party to take advantage should Red Bull Racing run into problems somewhere.

Aston Martin has always declared that it would ultimately go for nothing less than the world title. No doubt this was music to Alonso's ears, also being aware that huge investments were being made to make this dream a reality. At Alpine, for which Alonso competed in recent seasons, the Spaniard apparently did not feel that victories would be a reality quickly.

A phone call from Lawrence

Yet Alpine was the party with which Alonso negotiated a contract extension during the previous season. Indeed, a deal with the French team would have been close. Until Lawrence Stroll, the owner of Aston Martin came forward.

"I received a phone call from Lawrence asking if I was already committed to Alpine," Alonso told the New York Times. "“I said not yet. My conversations with Alpine were quite advanced, but I didn’t have anything on paper. He said if I send you something on paper today, you will consider it." 

During the course of the day, the Spaniard indeed received a concrete offer from the Canadian businessman: "He sent it, I was happy, and as I had nothing from the other side, it was an easy decision. Everything was quicker thanks to that relationship over the years," the veteran driver told the American newspaper, pointing out the regular, good contact he maintained with the Stroll family over the years.