2-time world champion Fernando Alonso is set to replace his old rival Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin who chose retirement after 16 years long F1 career.
Alonso, though at the age of 41, is still considered one of the legendary figures and one of the sport’s finest drivers.
Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack believes Alonso’s traits bring a much bigger challenge to the team in the 2023 season. The Spaniard is known to be someone who demands a lot from his teams and therefore Krack believes that the 41-year-old can push the team.
Speaking exclusively to BBC, Krack said that Alonso was Aston Martin’s number one candidate to replace the 4-time world champion.
Fernando Alonso is unique, says Krack
Alonso will be entering the 22nd season of his F1 racing career in 2023 and he has won 2-world championship titles. Between them, Alonso and Vettel have 554 Grand Prix starts.
Given the level of experience that the Spaniard brings to the table, Krack explained that drivers with this much experience normally lose the desire to win, especially if they have won already.
However, Alonso is a unique combination of speed, hunger, motivation and experience. the downside of this collaboration with Alonso could be if the Silverston-based team fails to provide him with a ‘good enough’ car.
But again, in that case, it becomes difficult for every driver.
Sebastian Vettel opens up about Alonso
Vettel and Alonso shared a rivalry during the 2010 and 2012 seasons and both the time Vettel, who was driving for Red Bull at the time, came at the top.
Their relationship was not as harsh as some of the rivalries in the history of F1. Although, Alonso had once said that the German driver’s successes come from the Red Bull designed by Adrian Newey rather than his talents.
Speaking at the Beyond The Grid podcast, Vettel revealed that the duo never really came to know each other away from the track.
But Vettel admires him as a competitor and recalled the memories of those few seasons when the duo went head-to-head.
Also Read: Fernando Alonso makes post-F1 career pledge that he’ll probably pursue in 2026
