The goodbye of Vettel that opens a new negotiating trick for Alonso

• Quick lap The 'game over', getting closer

Almost four years ago, just after finishing his fourth season at Ferrari,

began to think about the idea of ​​retirement.

Just a few months later, he married

, his longtime girlfriend, and gave birth to his third child.

The option of goodbye would never disappear from his head, although it only materialized definitively on Wednesday.

And it was he himself who communicated it, at night, to his team, until now convinced that he would have the four-time champion for the next season.

Suddenly, the market for Formula 1 drivers was turned upside down at the Hungaroring.

Shortly before noon, Vettel gave an emotional speech in the Aston Martin garage.

"We all felt that he spoke to us from the heart and that he was not playing any part. There were some tears shed, even by the most veterans," confirmed

, sporting director of the British team.

He was the farewell to

, the absolute dominator of the World Cup between 2010 and 2013, the man who frustrated two titles for

, the youngest champion in F1 history: 23 years, four months and 11 days.

"Committing to my passion the way I did and in the way I thought was right is no longer compatible with my desire to be a good father and husband," Vettel said in his statement.

On July 4 he had turned 35, six years younger than the two-time Spanish champion.

However, his ambition was far from Alonso's.

And the results were still unaccompanied: 15 points in 10 races [in the first two he had to give his seat to

because of covid].

find a substitute

Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll

had asked him to make a decision before the summer break, to give him enough time to look for a potential replacement.

Behind closed doors, Vettel always campaigned for

, who is in his second year at Haas, where he has completed some very notable performances (Silverstone and Spielberg).

"He is one of those who continues to learn when others leave him," he commented on more than one occasion about the son of

.

However, other names circulate through the

.

From Hulkenberg, a reserve driver who will take the wheel of the AMR22 during a Pirelli test at the Hungaroring, to Alonso himself, who has not yet resolved his future with Alpine.

"My priority is to continue in this project, on which we have been working for two years and where we are increasingly competitive," the Asturian advanced on Thursday, without completely closing the door to competition.

"All teams with free seats are an option," he cautioned.

Alonso's track record and his vast technical background fit what Stroll wants for his team.

In fact, in mid-2020, the Canadian billionaire already tried to sign the double winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

"When we spoke, at the time when they were still called Racing Point, they were very competitive and won races," Fernando admitted on Thursday.

"It takes 10 minutes"

In the negotiations with

and

, the top managers of Alpine, the trick of Aston Martin could be very valuable for Alonso.

"When two parties want to agree it takes 10 minutes. But there are two parties and I will not put a gun to anyone's head";

commented the Asturian, who has already scheduled several videoconferences with the heads of the French team during his vacation.

The approaches of the last few weeks make a deal with Alpine more than likely.

In any case, if the matter is truncated, Rossi and Szafnauer will at least be able to give a seat to

, the young Australian talent who they have been trying to find a place on the grid for months.

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• Sebastian Vettel