Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll could sign a top replacement if Fernando Alonso leaves the team ahead of 2025, BBC F1’s Andrew Benson says. Both Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll, Lawrence’s son, are out of contract at the end of this year.
As the oldest driver on the grid at 42, Alonso will first have to decide if he wants to continue racing. He initially retired at the end of the 2018 season before making a comeback with Alpine in 2021.
If the Spaniard does want to remain on the grid, then there will be a contract on the table from Aston Martin. Team principal Mike Krack has confirmed that they will offer the ‘exemplary’ driver a new deal.
That’s no surprise given that Alonso has started the campaign in electric form, scoring 24 of his team’s 33 points and delivering two top-six finishes. While Aston have taken a step back, he’s building on the success he enjoyed last year, when he bagged eight podiums en route to fourth in the championship.
Stroll, by contrast, has made an inconsistent start to the new campaign. He scored points in the season-opener in Bahrain and beat Alonso in Australia, albeit with the aid of a penalty, but crashed out of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and finished 12th in Japan.
Andrew Benson names possible replacement for Fernando Alonso
In a Q&A for BBC Sport, one fan asked Benson whether Aston Martin should replace Stroll with Carlos Sainz. While he feels that the latter represents an ‘upgrade’, he’s ruled out such a move taking place.
That’s because Stroll Sr is still determined for the 25-year-old to become a world champion one day, and won’t give up on that dream. As such, if Sainz is to join the Silverstone outfit, then it would be as Alonso’s replacement.
There’s no ‘guarantee’ that the two-time world champion extends his stay, which could open the door for his compatriot. Sainz has lost his seat at Ferrari, who are signing Lewis Hamilton for next year.
“Would Carlos Sainz be an upgrade on Lance Stroll in an Aston Martin next year?” Benson wrote. “Yes. Is there any chance of Stroll being replaced? No.
“Aston Martin are owned by Lawrence Stroll. He is a team owner in F1 primarily because he has a dream of making his son world champion.
“Sainz could still end up at Aston Martin, as the driver market is fluid and there is no guarantee Alonso will stay, even though the team have offered him a new contract and want him. But if Sainz did join Aston Martin in 2025 – rather than, for example, Red Bull or Sauber/Audi or Mercedes – it would be as Stroll’s team-mate, not instead of him.”
How much does Carlos Sainz make?
According to Spotrac, Sainz earns about £185k-a-week under the terms of the Ferrari contract that will expire at the end of this year. He may well expect Aston’s billionaire owner to at least match that salary.
Alonso is one of the most accomplished drivers on the grid with 32 wins, 22 pole positions and 106 podiums in addition to his titles, and that has helped secure him a £277k-a-week deal. Sainz may be one of the hottest properties in F1 at the moment after his victory in Australia, but he can’t rival that CV just yet.
Of course, the most important point in any discussions will be Aston’s competitiveness. They appear to be F1’s fifth-fastest team this year but their ambition for the future is clear. They’ve struck an exclusive deal with Honda for the 2026 regulation changes, and Stroll is going after legendary designer Adrian Newey in his bid to make the team a title contender.
The post ‘Could still end up’: Aston Martin considering £185k-a-week driver to replace Fernando Alonso - journalist appeared first on F1 Oversteer.