Fernando Alonso has explained that he is preparing team-mate Lance Stroll to lead Aston Martin for the “next 10 to 15 years” in Formula 1.
The Spaniard made the switch from Alpine to Aston Martin to join Stroll over the winter and has registered three podiums in four races to sit third in the Drivers’ standings.
Stroll, who was unable to participate in pre-season testing after suffering a broken wrist in a cycling accident, has also scored points in every round he’s finished to propel the Silverstone side to second in the Constructors’ Championship.
That included last weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Alonso was heard telling his engineer mid-race to pass on advice to Stroll regarding brake balance settings.
Alonso, 42, says he is aware Stroll will outstay his time in the sport and he is therefore willing to tutor the young Canadian to take over the reins as the British squad’s team leader in years to come.
“We talk a lot during the weekend already from Thursday,” Alonso told Autosport about his relationship with Stroll. “What we both felt here in the past, also in the strategy meeting, what we will do, what will be the plan for each of the cars and things like that.
“So if we feel something in the car during the race that we didn’t speak about, and there is something new that can help the other car, normally we communicate with the team.
“I know that I will be in the sport for a few more years, but not many, and he will lead the team for the next 10 or 15 years. So I hope I can help Lance as much as I can in the next few years.”
The two-time champion also reckons that he has enjoyed similarly good relations with previous team-mates – but asserts it wasn’t necessarily portrayed that way in the media.
Asked whether he had sustained an equally cordial relationship with past drivers on the opposite side of the garage, Alonso added: “Yeah, I had in the past, but only some of my radios were broadcast! But not this one. For whatever reason now F1 is kind to me.”
With overtaking opportunities scarce in the Baku race and Alonso struggling to find a way past the cars, Stroll vocally expressed he wouldn’t attempt to attack his team-mate.
Speaking after the race, Stroll said he was content with not battling the sister car in the early stages of Sunday’s race as he acknowledged Alonso had better pace.
“We were both thinking about the long-term, the race, and he had better pace,” the 24-year-old proclaimed. “I didn’t want to push him in that sense.
“I felt like it was smart for both of us to manage at the beginning of the race. And then he took off and had a really good pace on the hards, and I struggled with balance, and didn’t really get into a happy place.
“I made that mistake in [Turn] 16, when [Lewis] Hamilton got me, and then it felt like it was kind of just a bit tricky to the end of the race.”
Asked about Alonso’s message regarding brake balance, he said: “I heard about that now! Yeah, he returned the favour! So, that was nice of him. I was told to think about brake balance and change a few things. So now I know it came from him.”
Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack was proud of the way his two drivers worked together and believes the green-liveried outfit is well-poised to benefit in the long term.
“It’s fantastic to see,” he stated. “It shows the maturity of Lance and Fernando, the way they work together, the way they also act with each other.
“They have clearly understood that our opponents are not the green car relative, but others.
“I think if we can manage to keep this harmony between the two, pushing each other but also helping each other where it matters, it will only benefit us in the long run.”
