Alonso tricks fans with fake retirement video, confirms he's staying in F1

An hour before its official announcement, the Aston Martin team released a short video showing a chair in a dark room — a format several athletes have recently used to announce the end of their careers. The clip led many to believe Fernando Alonso was about to announce his F1 retirement.

It turned out to be a prank on fans. In the video, Alonso said Formula 1 had treated him wonderfully and that he has an outstanding career behind him — more than 23 years in the sport and over 400 Grand Prix starts. After saying he needed some time to make his decision, he stated that he would be ending his F1 career, only to immediately add: "But not yet!" Alonso said he still feels fast and motivated, and is glad to continue competing at the top level.

Stroll also stays with the team

In a separate statement, Aston Martin confirmed that for next season it has signed not only Alonso but also Canadian driver Lance Stroll. Stroll's comments suggested he has signed a long-term deal with the team, saying he is pleased to continue working with Aston Martin long-term, having been involved since the team's early days, and that he believes it has the resources and people to become a winning team.

A difficult season

Aston Martin has struggled this season to adapt to new regulations and remains uncompetitive. Over the most recent race weekend, its two drivers completed just 31 laps combined — 22 for Alonso and 9 for Stroll — before the race had to be stopped due to technical trouble. Despite this, the 45-year-old Alonso has managed to score three points this season. His career includes two world championship titles, won in 2005 and 2006.