Aston Martin have denied they approached Fernando Alonso over a 2022 race seat, to replace Sebastian Vettel as Lance Stroll’s team-mate.
Rumours spread through the paddock on Saturday that team owner Lawrence Stroll had met with Fernando Alonso and his manager, Flavio Briatore, to discuss the Spaniard leaving Alpine for Aston Martin.
The team has denied those claims, insisting Stroll’s meeting with Briatore had been a social one and nothing more.
“Lawrence Stroll did not offer a drive to Fernando Alonso, as has been reported in some media,” a team spokesperson told Autosport.
“Lawrence had lunch with Flavio Briatore in Sardinia during the summer break. Lawrence and Flavio are friends. They have lunched together in Sardinia many times over many years. It was a social occasion, nothing more.”
Aston Martin is due to announce a contract extension with Vettel for next year, whilst Stroll is already contracted to the team which owned by his father.
Vettel has delivered Aston Martin’s sole podium of the season at the Azerbaijan GP where he finished second. He also stood on the podium in Hungary, but was later disqualified for a fuel infringement.
