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Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has poured cold water on suggestions that Lance Stroll's future could be in jeopardy. Talking about how the entire squad was built around Lance, Krack more or less made it clear that the Canadian wasn't going anywhere.
Lance Stroll's future has been a point of discussion for many ever since Aston Martin grew in prominence over the last couple of seasons. The team was just a midfielder in 2022, but in 2023, it took a major step forward. That step helped the team clinch as many as eight podiums in what was its most successful season in F1.
For Lance Stroll, however, the season was not as fruitful and it also brought to light one major weakness. Fernando Alonso scored all 8 podiums while Lance was nowhere close to his teammate's level.
The Canadian has since been looked at as a liability and with his father, Lawrence Stroll, owning Aston Martin, suggestions have been made that Lance continued to be on the team because his father owns it. With Honda becoming the engine partner in 2026, there have been suggestions that the brand would want a stronger driver lineup which would mean Lance Stroll vacating the seat.
Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack, however, has denied such theories and claimed that Lance Stroll is a part of the family and is not going anywhere. He told the media, including Sportskeeda:
“Last week, it was mainly about Fernando. But we also know that Aston Martin is Lance’s home. We know that and the whole project has always been around him. So we look for continuity. I’ve always thought that is very important. So we will see in the next weeks.”
Aston Martin trying to have the two best drivers on the team
Krack was also questioned on the decision to keep Fernando Alonso with the team on a multi-year contract. The Spaniard has been the benchmark for the team in the last couple of years. Having said that, he's still above 40 years of age, which brings the question of giving opportunities to younger drivers.
Mike Krack felt that while Aston Martin will try to give youngsters an opportunity, the team still wants to field the best possible lineup, criteria that the current lineup fulfills. He said:
“I think in general, we have a certain duty to bring young drivers into Formula 1, but the main thing is that we have the best possible drivers, independent of what is their experience level and where they’re coming from."
He added:
“So for us, it was what is the best choice, and if there had been someone from F2 or whatever which would outweigh what we have selected, we would have gone for it. But I think, in general, we need to look at how the situation is developing.”
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll have represented the team in the last couple of years and by the looks of it, the duo will continue to be there in 2025 as well.
