Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has aimed a cheeky barb at Alpine after commenting that Fernando Alonso‘s age is just a number as the Spanish driver continues to prove himself to be one of the best on the grid.
At 42 years old Alonso is the oldest driver in the Formula 1 paddock, some four years older than Lewis Hamilton and 17 years senior to his teammate Lance Stroll. But it seems he has not lost none of his talent as he sits third in the standings with 170 points and has recorded seven podium finished over the 2023 F1 season.
Aston Martin pounced to sign the Spaniard after Alpine dithered in offering a contract extension to Alonso given their concerns over his age, which then prompted a swap of Enstone for Silverstone.
“It’s not a decision I make alone,” Krack said to Motorsport.com, regarding the drivers hired. “We have Lawrence [Stroll], we have Martin [Whitmarsh] and we discuss those things.
“I can only say, that at the level he is working, age is just a number, with the right discipline and motivation, he will perform without a problem.
“You see Valentino Rossi, for example, or you see tennis players like [Roger] Federer, they had a very long career. Maybe we have to change our mentality a little bit.”
“We’re not even talking about his age, it’s you [the media],” He continued. “We have two drivers who are very focused and we don’t really think about that.”
Fernando Alonso’s desire
As Krack says, the team isn’t exclusively interested in his speed. Alonso‘s commitment and focus impresses them just as much as he attempts to catapult them to F1 glory.
“When you see the desire… I’ve worked with riders who weren’t even 30 years old and who said ‘I’ve achieved everything’,” Krack added. “Even if they hadn’t achieved much.
“And then you have an example like him, with a great mentality and enormous determination.”
