Aston Martin F1 team principal Mike Krack wants to see Fernando Alonso challenge his team to try and get them through next season.
The two-time world champion will join them next season on a multi-year contract to replace Sebastian Vettel, who is retiring after the Spaniard and Alpine reached a sticking point in their negotiations over the length of the contract.
Aston Martin F1 were quick to offer Alonso what he was looking for (term and salary), agreeing to sign just days after Vettel’s retirement announcement.
Although staying at Alpine F1 was Alonso’s preferred initial option, he will re-launch a new F1 project with Aston Martin next year, and the team principal hopes to see the team able to deliver on his potential. .
« Well, he’s a champion. There’s a reason these guys are champions and that’s because they’re very competitive. They ask the right questions, they push teams to the limit, and we think, for us, it’s important to have someone like that to ask questions as uncomfortable as possible. »
« And that pushes us even further. So I think for the team it’s the right thing to have a driver like that. »
Alonso still seems to be at the top of his game at the wheel of a Formula 1 car and will reach a milestone in Singapore by becoming the first driver in history with 351 Grand Prix starts.
« It’s impressive because, first of all, Fernando is always super fast, and that’s the first criterion when you have to sign someone.
« Then he’s very hungry, he’s very motivated and very competitive. And normally, with his amount of experience, it’s very difficult to have all that together. So we are, I think, privileged to have this combination of experience, competitiveness and speed. »
« He will do great things with us. We just don’t know, at this time, what position we will find ourselves in on our debut together, but he is the right driver for our adventure and to make Aston Martin F1 a top team. plan. »
