The Formula One summer break is well underway, with the craziness of the driver market already kicking off thanks to a duo with six world championships between them, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel.

The German joined Instagram last week, exciting fans around the world as he finally had an official social media account.

However, such joy was short lived, with Vettel using it to post a video which announced his retirement from the sport come the end of the current season, pulling the curtain down on a glittering career which saw him romp to four consecutive world titles with Red Bull from 2010-2013.

He did say he would join social media jokingly in an interview earlier in the season when he retired, although he must’ve meant it.

His retirement left an open seat at Aston Martin from next season, with Lawrence Stroll not wasting any time in getting a new teammate for his son, Lance Stroll.

Double back-to-back world champion Fernando Alonso joins the team on a multi-year deal with his seat not guaranteed next season at Alpine, with the French team keen on getting youngster Oscar Piastri into Formula One.

Alonso clearly has plenty to give the sport, so it’s potentially the case that he jumped before he was pushed so he could carry on his career in the sport with Otmar Szafnauer confirming Piastri will be a Formula One driver next year.

Sebastian Vettel: Who will replace German at Aston Martin?

NOIDA, INDIA - OCTOBER 27: Race winner Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates his fourth consecutive F1 World Championship following the Indian Formula One Grand Prix at Buddh International Circuit on October 27, 2013 in Noida, India. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

However, reports have been made that Alpine were willing to give him a two-year deal, meaning Piastri’s Formula One chance wouldn’t have been at Alpine.

That contradicts the rumour that Alonso was wary of committing to his current team because they were only offering him an extra year.

The Spaniard has joined Aston Martin on a multi-year contract which has some fascinating clauses including the actual length of the ‘multi-year’ contract and his wage.

Fernando Alonso

SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA - JULY 07: Fernando Alonso of Spain and Alpine F1 walks in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on July 07, 2022 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

It has been reported by AS that Alonso will earn £17.8 million (20m euros) per year with the team, not a bad wage for someone in their 40s eh?

Effectively, the deal is a three-year one which will see Alonso and Aston Martin both reserve the chance to assess the relationship after each season, with his contract being described as a “one plus one plus one that can be extended.”

Does that mean he’ll continue driving past 2026 when he will be 44? Either way, the former world champion is here to stay and won’t be retiring from the sport anytime soon. He tried that in 2018 but returned swiftly to the sport he loves.