Alonso gives advice to Stroll: 'Then it's only a matter of time'
F1 News
Aston Martin has a unique set of drivers: 41-year-old two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, alongside 24-year-old Lance Stroll. It is the veteran who is currently angling in the most points for the British racing stable, although according to the Spaniard it will only be a matter of time until his Canadian protégé will follow him, he told F1.com.
Lance Stroll was not unchallenged during the early years of his Formula 1 career. The young Canadian was often part of debate. Did he only race in F1 because his father transferred millions to Williams, or because senior bought the then Racing Point team?
But most people agree in recent years: he deserves a seat in Formula 1. Some strong overtaking races, qualifyings and podium finishes have convinced most of his ability, among them Fernando Alonso. "I think we saw many times in the past sparks of Lance, in wet qualifying, in races, at the starts, Lap 1 performance, these kinds of things that are outstanding."
Tips from Alonso
Nevertheless, the one-time polesitter cannot match the veteran driver. Whereas Fernando Alonso is on the podium every week, the Canadian has not yet managed to do so this year."I think, for him, the most important thing now is to get the consistency, weekend after weekend... That consistency is going to be the next step in his career, to be constantly fighting for the top five," his mentor says.
Passion and willpower
Despite the two having only been teammates since this year, the Aston Martin drivers have known each other for some time. "I know Lance from 2012 – actually, I met him in Montreal in one of the Ferrari events, when he was in the [Ferrari Driver] Academy," Alonso says. The Spaniard has been impressed by his Canadian counterpart. "I think Lance is showing the speed in the car, the commitment. We saw at the beginning of the year as well, racing with a broken hand and things like that; you only see [these things] when you really have passion for something that you're doing."
According to the two-time world champion, his colleague is on the right track. "With the motivation, the commitment that he has, and the team that Aston Martin is building now, I think it's a matter of time that [consistently fighting for the top five] will come."
Alonso is currently third in the drivers' standings with 117 points. Lance Stroll can be found in eighth place with 37 points so far.