What two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso has to say about Lance Stroll remaining his team-mate at Aston Martin for another two years
Ahead of the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, Fernando Alonso has explained why he thinks it is “great news” that Lance Stroll has extended his Formula 1 contract with Aston Martin
“Lance knows the team very well. Apart from a few years at Williams, he has spent his entire career in this environment and with the same people,” says Alonso. That’s why Stroll can make an active contribution to moving the team forward. “Because he has all the background. He knows what is now, what was in the past and what has changed – for better or worse.”
He and Stroll complement each other well, says Alonso, because he himself has had similar experiences “with other teams”. “So we can both try to help and find the best solutions.”
This is another strength of the current driver pairing at Aston Martin: he gets on “very well” with Stroll, emphasizes Alonso. “For me, it’s very positive to work with someone who thinks along the same lines and only helps the team, not his own wishes. That’s good for the team. “
Why Lance Stroll is still underestimated
Stroll is often underestimated in this respect, says Alonso. He got to know the son of team owner Lawrence Stroll as a “very committed person” during his time at Aston Martin. Stroll does his job “with determination”. And because he has settled in England, Stroll is also able to spend a lot of time in the simulator and is in constant dialog with the engineers.
The latter is in line with Alonso’s attitude: “After Barcelona, we were constantly exchanging WhatsApp messages about the car. On Sunday evening in Barcelona, we were still sending each other quite long messages. “
I can’t remember such a working relationship with any of my team-mates in the past,” says Alonso. Stroll is “always open” and often asks him about driving matters. Specifically, Alonso mentions “braking techniques” or various track characteristics.
Alonso: Stroll will have the leading role one day
“Last year, we worked with the engineers to find out that he is strong in certain corners and I am stronger in others. On some tracks he is particularly good, on other tracks I am. We are trying to understand this pattern. Whether you can learn something from your team-mate. But we are very open about it, even in the simulator,” says Alonso.
This is “very important for the team” and crucial for the success of Aston Martin’s Formula 1 project. “I’ve already said this a few times: I see myself in this team in the long term. And even if I don’t drive [anymore]: Then I hope Lance takes over the leadership role in the team. I will then support him, even if I am no longer behind the wheel. “