Fernando Alonso heaped yet more praise on Lance Stroll as the bromance between the Aston Martin drivers blossoms.
Fiercely ambitious and hot-headed at times, Alonso has often been part of some difficult relationships with his Formula 1 team-mates. He had to leave McLaren after just one year in which he and Lewis Hamilton fell out and, even just last year at Alpine, he and Esteban Ocon did not always see eye to eye.
But a new Alonso has been on display so far in his Aston Martin career. His mood has no doubt been helped by his very competitive car, but the Spaniard has been the ultimate team player so far – a talisman for the entire team who has even been giving Stroll some tips mid-race.
Speaking ahead of this weekend's Miami Grand Prix, Alonso said he has been happy to look after the Canadian as he believes he is the future of the team. "We talk a lot during the weekend already from Thursday," he told reporters.
"What we both felt here in the past, also in the strategy meeting, what we will do, what will be the plan for each of the cars and things like that. So if we feel something in the car during the race that we didn't speak about, and there is something new that can help the other car, normally we communicate with the team.
"I know that I will be in the sport for a few more years, but not many, and he will lead the team for the next 10 or 15 years. So I hope I can help Lance as much as I can in the next few years."
Earlier this year, Alonso raised some eyebrows in the paddock when he declared Stroll could be fighting for titles in the future. "I will still be very proud if the team wins without me in the car. I will be very proud of the process and my contribution to the project," the 41-year-old said when discussing his own longevity.
"In Lance, the team has a driver who is super young, super talented and has the possibility to be world champion. To see him achieve that and have played a part in that, whether that's behind the wheel or not, will be special for me.
"I've known Lance for 11 years. We met in 2012 when I was at Ferrari – he was in the Ferrari Academy. And I've known his father, Lawrence, for many years. He's a great friend of mine. I've been to his house in Canada a few times, doing different sports and enjoying time together.
"He has the speed, and he has the talent. He has shown it many times, especially in wet conditions. I remember Lance's pole position in Turkey and some of his other excellent performances in the wet; to perform at that level in difficult conditions you have to have a special feeling with the car."
