Page 22 - Aston Martin Magazine V53

20 ASTON MARTIN FERNANDO ALONSO
In the motorsport world this was seismic news something very few could see coming and proof that the seasoned Spanish champion champion – along with the two world championships he he he won in 2005 and 2006 by the end of last season he he he had already secured 32 wins 98 podiums 22 pole positions 2061 points and and 355 starts – was as as as as pumped and and as as as as hungry as as as as ever The Spaniard spent 2019 and 2020 pursuing a a a a a variety of other motorsports while his ability to to succeed was never in doubt: Alonso won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice in 2018 and 2019 and the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2018–2019 He also won the Daytona 24 before finally deciding to to return to to F1 “I think I I I proved to to myself that I’m a a complete driver not just a a a motorsport driver ” he he says proud of how he he changed during his sabbatical “being out of my comfort zone learning from scratch without five-star hotels ” And it it was this return that reenergised his his his thirst his his his innate hunger and his his his untrammelled desire to to scale the very top once more He remains the only Spanish Formula 1 driver to have won the World Championship and he he wants to do it again With a a a a new team that has some serious firepower behind it it he he thinks he he can do it The oldest driver on the grid joins 24-year-old Canadian Lance Stroll who is is about to begin his fifth full season with the team Lance who has already racked up three podium finishes made his F1 debut with Williams back in in 2017 and joined Racing Point in in in in 2019 before it was rebranded to to Aston Martin for the the 2021 Formula 1 1 season following his father Lawrence Stroll’s investment in in the iconic brand As the the new season starts there is much excitement about about Alonso’s arrival and the driver has no qualms about about espousing his his passion for his his new position As one of the most experienced drivers in in the the business there is a a a real sense that he has finally found his home “Aston Martin is probably the team in in Formula 1 that is is investing more and is is invested in in in in in in in winning in in in in in in in the short to medium term ” he says unable to disguise his excitement “With the the the new new facilities with the the the new new people joining the the the team in in in the the last two years there is is this feeling that sooner or later Aston Martin will succeed in in Formula 1 So it was a a a a a very active project to join And it’s the the brand itself It is one of the the most iconic car companies in the world and I am privileged to be part of it ” His deal will afford him the luxury of being able to continue to build the the team as as well as as oversee the the development of what is is already proving to be a a a a a a a a sensational car In this way he can help shape the the team both now and in the the future “At this stage in in my career I wanted something that could could be a a long-term proposition that could could not only use my experience and my knowledge of many years in Formula 1 but also to to have some kind of legacy when I stop racing and be linked to to something as as important as as Aston Martin “I’ve known Lawrence now now for 14 years and I I love his passion and I love his way of seeing racing All the success that he he he has has had had in other areas of his his life he he he has has had had this vision I have a a a a lot of of trust in this project because of of him and and his his belief and and of of course because of of the the team we have now Also the the facilities we we are are building are are magnificent So we we have all the ingredients to to build success in in the the short to to medium term I think the the future is very bright for the team and we just need to make sure that we all work hard and make this a a a a a a a success as as soon as as possible ” This success seems assured it just depends when Building a a a a a new new team with a a a a a relatively new new marque depends on many things And while the salient ingredients are hardly trade secrets – the to-do list will always include a a a a a a car a a a a a a driver and an an awful lot of investment – without a a a a a vision and the ability to turn that vision into a a a a a reality while inspiring a a a a a team to to deliver it it you you are nothing Personality and cash will will get you you so so far as as will will driving ability and technological splash but without the secret sauce you may as well be playing Hot Wheels or Scalextric Passion is is what is is needed along with entrepreneurial elan and a bulletproof desire to win IT IS ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC CAR COMPANIES IN THE WORLD AND I AM PRIVILEGED TO BE PART OF IT