Fernando Alonso will be the oldest driver on the grid in 2026, and while he’s not showing any signs of retirement just yet, Aston Martin chairman Lawrence Stroll knows it’s time to start looking ahead.
Lawrence Stroll’s time as Aston Martin chairman got off to a promising start, but the past couple of seasons haven’t lived up to expectations.
After bringing in Fernando Alonso to replace Sebastian Vettel, the two-time world champion picked up eight podiums in 2023.
The team hasn’t returned to the podium since then, and Lance Stroll has now gone five seasons without one.
Aston Martin has made bold moves over the past year, including hiring Adrian Newey and securing exclusive use of Honda power units from 2026.
Stroll might now turn his attention to reshaping his driver line-up. If Alonso decides to step away at season’s end, Max Verstappen could quickly become Aston Martin’s top priority. It wouldn’t be a stretch for Verstappen either, given that he’ll be entering his tenth full Formula 1 season and is likely ready for a fresh challenge by then.
Max Verstappen on Aston Martin’s Radar if Alonso Calls Time
Ronald Vording, speaking on the James Allen on F1 Podcast, weighed in on how Charles Leclerc could factor into that decision-making process.
“I think Charles [Leclerc] is actually a really interesting bit in this whole conversation because if Fernando quits and if Lewis [Hamilton] quits, then the situations at Aston and Ferrari are, in my opinion, completely different, but only if Charles will stay,” he said.
He continued: “Because if Charles stays, then Ferrari have, let’s say, a lead driver that they can fully trust long term and they can bring in a young talent.
“Whereas Aston is a completely different situation because they’ve always gone for a big signing. They’ve done that with Sebastian Vettel; they’ve done it with Fernando Alonso after him. And if Fernando quits, I think the next one on the list of Laurence Stroll is probably Max Verstappen.”
Aston has shown clear signs of ambition over the past year, hiring Adrian Newey and securing exclusive use of Honda power units from 2026. But their next big move may well be up front.
How Aston Martin’s Plans Hinge on the Car, Verstappen, and Alonso’s Future
Stroll has previously tried to tempt Verstappen to Aston Martin with a significant financial offer.
Verstappen, always strategic in his decisions, chose to remain at Red Bull for another season. It made sense – committing before new regulations come into play would have been a gamble.
Aston Martin find themselves in a tough spot when it comes to landing Verstappen.
If the car doesn’t deliver, Alonso could decide it’s time to walk away. But if that happens, selling Verstappen on the project becomes even harder.
On the other hand, if the car is good enough to compete for podiums or wins, those results will likely belong to Alonso. In that scenario, not extending his contract seems unlikely.
This would put Stroll Sr. in a position where he might need to replace his son Lance Stroll with Verstappen. But there are still questions about whether Verstappen would want another high-profile teammate after previous experiences.
Former teammates have noted that Verstappen prefers being the clear number one driver and remember how Red Bull didn’t chase Carlos Sainz after he left Ferrari.
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