So Aston Martin signs ……..

[Tazar]

Lance Stroll. He’s not the winning driver that the team needs. For a team with a high profile name such as Aston Martin it needs a winning driver. With Alonso they have a two times World Champion who can still put in powerful performances. At the moment by keeping Lance in place it’s a hobby team for his dad.

[sidewinder500]

Tazar said:

Lance Stroll. He’s not the winning driver that the team needs. For a team with a high profile name such as Aston Martin it needs a winning driver. With Alonso they have a two times World Champion who can still put in powerful performances. At the moment by keeping Lance in place it’s a hobby team for his dad.

Sad but true, hoped for more as well

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

Was always going to happen unfortunately. Other than Hamilton taking Sainz spot at Ferrari, the 2025 silly season has been very predictable so far.

[Puddenchucker]

Would Stroll senior be as forthcoming with tthe funding for the team if Stroll junior wasn't in one of the seat?

I would think more of a concern for the team is who they replace Alonso with when he retires from F1 driving.
He's 42(?) and although he's signed-up to end of 2026 his fitness will start to decline with age.

[Presuming Ed]

Should have taken Sainz

[Muzzer79]

Puddenchucker said:

Would Stroll senior be as forthcoming with tthe funding for the team if Stroll junior wasn't in one of the seat?

I would think more of a concern for the team is who they replace Alonso with when he retires from F1 driving.
He's 42(?) and although he's signed-up to end of 2026 his fitness will start to decline with age.

Stroll has been involved in F1 for years, dating back to the 90s IINM when he sponsored Lotus(?) and later Ferrari through his clothing brands.

Would he have his own team without his son being a driver? Debatable - but, like him or loathe him, he's a pretty astute businessman so may have spotted the investment opportunity that the cost cap brought.

Fernando is 43 next month. He'll be racing for AM when he's 45 and surely must end there. Someone else will come along for 2027, that's not a massive concern right now IMO - especially as a works Honda team (and assuming they get it more-or-less right with the new rules in '26)

[Adrian W]

The ultimate pay driver, just buy the team

[Sandpit Steve]

Adrian W said:

The ultimate pay driver, just buy the team

He’s an astute businessman, and knows that the value of teams is rapidly increasing, thanks to the prize money going up and the expenditure limits coming down.

At some point, he will understand that employing his boy and an old man is affecting the valuation of the business, and then he’ll do something different.

[Jasandjules]

Ok, I think if I was rich enough to own an F1 team and my son wanted to race in F1, I would let him. I would also sign a really good driver to try to get some points.......

So I can't say as I blame them really..

[b0rk]

Muzzer79 said:

Stroll has been involved in F1 for years, dating back to the 90s IINM when he sponsored Lotus(?) and later Ferrari through his clothing brands.

Would he have his own team without his son being a driver? Debatable - but, like him or loathe him, he's a pretty astute businessman so may have spotted the investment opportunity that the cost cap brought.

Fernando is 43 next month. He'll be racing for AM when he's 45 and surely must end there. Someone else will come along for 2027, that's not a massive concern right now IMO - especially as a works Honda team (and assuming they get it more-or-less right with the new rules in '26)

Honda IMHO will want one the seats to go to a Honda affiliated driver. It's not like RB where the Honda driver could get placed with the junior team.