Aston Martin tipped to axe Lance Stroll and find new Fernando Alonso teammate

F1 preview: A lap of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso could score the 33rd Grand Prix victory of his career this season, even if a tilt at the World Championship is beyond his reach. And the performances of the Spaniard suggest that the Silverstone-based team could have the pick of the pitlane, should they decide to replace Lance Stroll at the end of the season.

That’s the view of former F1 racer and Le Mans LMP2 winner David Kennedy who labelled Alsono a “warrior” in a recent interview with PlanetF1.com.

At 41, the Spaniard is now the oldest driver competing in Formula One, but the two-times World Champion is currently enjoying something of a resurgence late in his career.

His five podium finishes in the first seven races of the season have put Aston Martin firmly in contention for the runners-up spot in the 2023 constructors championship. The team is yet to win a GP since owner Lawrence Stroll rebranded the outfit from Racing Point in 2021.

But Honda will replace Mercedes as the outfit’s engine provider in 2026 and although Kennedy doesn’t think Alonso can win a third World Championship before then, he is optimistic that the Spaniard can at least find his way to the top of the podium.

“This season. They’ve got the car for it,” said Kennedy. “He just knows all the tricks. I think when he puts it on pole and wins a race, then they have the calling card to go down the pit lane, or up the pit lane, to get who they want to join him.

“He’s got a tremendous contribution to the team in where they are. If it could be a regular winner, they will need someone to make that difference like [Max Verstappen did] in Monaco.”

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Kennedy believes that Alonso is the perfect driver to be working with Aston Martin and can help to make the team attractive to other top drivers by using his experience and know-how to get the maximum out of the car he is working with.

Kennedy added: “He’s probably the right man at the right time for the team, the team owner, and for his teammate, to be able to bring so much to the table. He’s older and wiser now, been through the mill with many machinations with F1 teams and managers.”

Alonso’s 99-point haul from seven races places him third in the Drivers’ Championship, behind the Red Bulls of Sergio Perez and Verstappen. The Spaniard’s form is in stark contrast to that of teammate Stroll, who has only managed to accumulate 35 points so far this campaign.

The 24-year-old is the son of Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll who has come under increasing pressure to replace his offspring in the team with a more experienced driver.

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