When unveiling its new AMR23 in February, Aston Martin explained its goals for the season: to lead the midfield and “occasionally” fight for podium finishes. Was she lowering expectations? Maybe. Still, the team has so far offered its fans much better than its initial objectives.
Beaten by Mercedes at the last Grand Prix in Spain, Aston Martin currently ranks third among manufacturers. They are 34 points ahead of the Scuderia. This ranking, it goes without saying, the British team owes to one of its two drivers: the 41-year-old former double world champion Fernando Alonso.
Alonso fights a lot more than “occasionally” for podiums. He fights every race, much to the delight of F1 buffs, who are eager to see the former champion return to the top. So far, the latter has climbed the second step once and the third four times. He gives his team the opportunity to celebrate more than anyone bargained for.
The points gap between Alonso and Stroll (64) is the largest between two drivers from the same team at the moment. The Quebecer, eighth in the standings, could not do better than a fourth place, won in Australia after a chaotic race.
Like every year since 2019 – in the days of Racing Point – Stroll collects fewer points than his teammate. It must be said that these have been Sergio Pérez, Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso. Not exactly newbies. However, there will come a time when the only Canadian on the grid will have to reach the next level. Can he?
Lance Stroll started the season on the right foot. After recovering in extremis from an operation and multiple fractures suffered during a major bicycle accident, the Quebecer had managed to conclude the first Grand Prix of the campaign in sixth place, ahead of George Russell at Mercedes.
In Saudi Arabia, Stroll had to retire on lap 16 due to a mechanical issue. Two weeks later, in Australia, he achieved his best result since 2020.
Arriving in Miami, for the fifth derby, Stroll was enjoying his best career start to the season, although he was a step behind Alonso. In sunny Florida, he had to start from 18th place due to a team strategy described as “too aggressive” by senior manager Mike Krack in qualifying. In the race, Stroll couldn’t do better than a 12th place finish. The following weekend in Monaco he had to retire due to braking problems in the rain.
Which brings us to the Spanish Grand Prix. Stroll started fifth on the grid. We saw him overtake Hamilton in a good way in the first round. He eventually finished sixth, just ahead of Alonso. If the latter could have overtaken the Quebecer, he decided not to do so to avoid damaging his car, he justified after the race. A noble explanation, certainly…
It is not the first time that Alonso has shown himself to be gallant towards his young teammate. It must be said that the two men have known each other for a long time; Alonso has a long-standing friendship with Lance’s father, Aston Martin big boss Lawrence Stroll. Clearly, Alonso has accepted his role as a mentor.
In Bahrain, Alonso praised his teammate for his work after recovering from his injuries. In Miami, Alonso kept abreast of Stroll’s results through the big screens at the track. “What position is Lance?” It was a nice overtake at turn one,” he said on the microphone as Stroll had just dropped from 14th to 13th place.
“Of course we talk a lot about the car, we have the same ideas in terms of what we want to get out of the car, how we want to improve it. For the moment, for sure we have a good relationship,” Stroll told La Presse after qualifying in Miami.
Where things could get complicated for Aston Martin is if they fight, as they want, for a championship in 2024. That will be impossible to do with just one driver. What will Lawrence Stroll do then? And how will Fernando Alonso react?
So many unanswered questions.
