Alonso reveals Aston Martin's succession plan: 'Lance will lead the team'
F1 News
Aston Martin have struggled so far in 2024, after a blistering start to their 2023 season. However, Fernando Alonso believes that the team is in safe hands and will be led into the future by none-other than this weekends home hero, Lance Stroll. The son of team owner Lawrence hasn't delievered the same results as Alonso during their time as teammates, struggling to finish in the points whilst Alonso was battling the Red Bull's for podiums.
Alonso has faith in Stroll
The 42-year-old made his Formula 1 debut back in 2001, and has had many teammates, from Lewis Hamilton to Esteban Ocon. Since 2023, he has partnered Lance Stroll at Aston Martin, and believes Stroll will lead the team in the future.
In an interview with The Times, Alonso said: “Now I feel the opposite, I’m the oldest, I’m the one with more experience and I feel that responsibility on my shoulders, of leading the team and trying to help not only the engineers, but also Lance. I will be part of the team for many years, even when I am not driving, and Lance will lead this team in the future. I will always support him.”
Alonso is committed to the Aston Martin project through to 2026 when the much-debated new regulations come in.
Alonso believes new F1 drivers have it easier!
“When you arrive in Formula 1, you feel this competitiveness in the team, in the sport, that is brutal, but you’re a little bit shy because you are twentysomething and your team-mates are normally older, they have more experience,” Alonso says.
The two time world champion went on to say: “It is, in a good way, easier for the drivers of this generation to drive Formula 1 cars. It’s a strange feeling, not a sad one, but I remember when I made my debut and I came to an event, I saw this respect towards me and I was one of those heroes that drove these super-fast cars. Now when there is a young driver that makes their debut at 16 or 17 years old, it seems that it is easier for everyone. We lost a little bit of that heroic thing we had before.”
It has been argued in the past however, that it is tougher for rookies, with a limit on testing that rookies can get, whereas in the past, there was no limit and teams could run drivers as much as they wanted before and during the season.