Fernando Alonso didn’t wait to cross the Bahrain finish line to declare his unwavering admiration for Aston Martin’s AMR23. He called it a beautiful, joyful car to drive over the radio after leaving Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari and, more recently, Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes behind in a remarkable overtake. The moment marked more than a single podium; it signaled a renewed competitive spark for the season’s early stages.
Now, at 41, the Asturian ace finally has a car that matches his ambitions. During the post-race celebrations, he posed a playful question to his engineers, who jokingly chanted his name as champagne sprayed around the pit lane. He spoke on camera about the pride he feels for the squad, acknowledging the winter work that made the achievement possible and insisting that what the team accomplished felt almost unreal.
owner’s son
Meet Lawrence Stroll, the owner’s son whose public persona mirrors a lifelong-fan fervor for racing. He has grown into a pivotal figure for Aston Martin, and his newest partnership appears to have captured his own imagination as well. After a tense start to the season, the Canadian tycoon watched with a wry smile as his team secured a strong result, even after enduring setbacks. From the paddock to the media, his presence has added a theatrical edge to the team’s story, including his quick, lighthearted ribbing of teammates and rivals alike. The drama intensified as Esteban Ocon logged a podium finish despite penalties, while Pierre Gasly crossed the line in ninth, a reminder of the unforgiving nature of this sport.
In the interview after the race, the driver expressed great belief in the Aston Martin project. He reflected on signing the deal eight months earlier and acknowledged that facing Ferrari and Mercedes would have seemed improbable at the time. The hope was not just to contend but to deliver a podium in the opening race and to push the team toward the front of the pack. The sentiment was clear: the 33 may arrive in due course, or perhaps not this season, but the work was already reshaping expectations across the garage.
double rescue story
The 2018 season brought a different chapter: Mercedes dominated, and Ferrari pursued a path of steady progress without breaking through. Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel held their positions as title contenders, just as Red Bull’s era appeared to wind down. Back then, Fernando Alonso’s return to McLaren did not go smoothly, and the financial support of Lawrence Stroll helped redefine a struggling Force India by linking it with a new identity and a fleet of Ferraris in Canada. As the team faced financial challenges, the Stroll family directed a name change to Racing Point BWT, aligning with Mercedes power while building a strategic base in Canada. This groundwork set the stage for a new era and marked a turning point for the organization as it prepared to race under new management and a renewed agenda.
The chapter then shifted again when Vettel and several veteran drivers weighed in on a fresh plan. In 2021, the Aston Martin identity resurfaced, driven by the ambition of the Stroll family. Yet the path to the podium remained elusive, prompting a strategic reassessment and a hopeful rethink as the team sought to maximize potential under new leadership. These transitions foreshadowed the bold moves seen in recent seasons, including the bold push that brought Alonso into focus and sparked a surprising revival for the squad.
risky decision
The choice to back a high-stakes project carried clear risks but also intriguing potential. With tensions simmering at Alpine, Aston Martin rose to seventh place on the grid in 2022, signaling a dramatic shift in momentum. The winter of this year brought a massive investment in the team’s infrastructure, including a new factory and wind tunnel at Silverstone, underscoring the seriousness of the undertaking. At the helm, Stroll entrusted Dan Fallows, a former collaborator of Adrian Newey at Red Bull, with shaping the technical direction. The collaboration promised a blend of experience, technical acumen, and a feeling that this new era could deliver results beyond expectations.
Observers noted a clear trajectory: Alonso’s presence would not just fill a seat. It would inject a level of precision and diagnostic insight that could accelerate development across the car’s systems. Fallows praised the driver’s ability to diagnose vehicle issues and to push the engineering team toward clearer solutions. The relationship between driver and engineers began to take shape as a key factor in Aston Martin’s ambitious plan to become a serious competitor in the top tier, strengthening the organization’s ability to translate raw pace into consistent performance across races and tracks. [citation needed]