Aston Martin Formula 1 Team Principal Mike Krack has stated that he is “confident” it will retain Fernando Alonso amid rumours linking him with a Mercedes drive.
Alonso, along with 13 other drivers, is out of contract at the end of the 2024 season and following Lewis Hamilton’s shock announcement he will don the scarlet red overalls of Scuderia Ferrari in 2025, a vacant Mercedes seat will be highly sought after among the F1 fraternity.
A resurgent Alonso would no doubt fill Hamilton’s Mercedes shoes nicely, given he remains one of the top talents on the F1 grid.
Still, Krack is hopeful the strength of Aston Martin’s relationship with Alonso will ensure it earns the Spaniard’s signature on a new deal.
“Yeah, I think the silly season has started much earlier than we were anticipating,” Krack told media including Motorsport Week ahead of the launch of the AMR24.
“We knew that it was always going to be an exciting year with a lot of speculation, but to be honest, we love Fernando, we have a very good relationship with Fernando, we have a relationship whereby he is an integral member of the team.
“We have a relationship that is based on trust and openness and we will be delighted honestly to continue with Fernando into 2025 and the years after.”
The start of Aston Martin and Alonso’s time together was harmonious, with six podiums coming in the opening eight races following the team’s resurgence.
Aston’s dip in form in the second half of the season meant Alonso added just two further top-three appearances, but the final rostrum finish in Sao Paulo was met with a jubilant celebration for the driver and team.
It appears the bond between the two is strong, which Alonso reaffirmed.
“My first priority will be always to sit down and discuss with Aston, they gave me the opportunity last year to join this organisation, which I’m very proud to be part of, with the new factory, with everything that is going on, there is a great future in this team, and I want to explore every possibility to race for many years here,” he said.
In addition to Alonso, it should come as no surprise that Lance Stroll is in the team’s long-term plans.
Son of team owner Lawrence Stroll, the Canadian driver is also out of contract at the end of the year but Krack is determined to maintain the team’s driver line-up moving forward.
“We have two great drivers,” the Aston Martin Team Principal added.
“And to be honest, they’re so integrated into the team that we just do everything that we can to keep them.
“As I said before the silly season is in full swing.
“But, you know, we are quite confident that we can achieve what we want, which is to continue with both drivers in 2025 and the future.”
