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Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya suggests Aston Martin replace Fernando Alonso with Max Verstappen in the future. He feels the Spaniard might not be in the title game for long.
Aston Martin's prospects appear promising following the acquisition of Fernando Alonso in 2022 and the imminent arrival of championship-winning designer Adrian Newey in 2025. Coupled with Honda's power unit and their 2023 performance, the team seems poised to compete for future championships, particularly with the introduction of new regulations in 2026.
While Alonso has expressed his ambition to secure a third F1 World Championship, Montoya has cast doubt on his ability to achieve this goal. Montoya believes that Alonso may not be in optimal form in the future, suggesting that he is not a "long-term option.
"Fernando is amazing," Montoya said. "How long can he go on? I don't think Lance is going anywhere. Fernando is not a long-term option. When do they make that decision and go, ‘Hey, we’ve got the Honda, we’ve got Newey. Why not go after Max?'"
Max Verstappen was linked with Aston Martin earlier this season. Red Bull, the team he has stuck with since his debut and has won three titles, has not been performing at the top this season. Their challengers have been able to develop well, and they also lost the lead in the Constructors' Championship.
Montoya feels that it would be better for the team to replace Fernando Alonso with Max Verstappen for multiple reasons.
Montoya explains why replacing Fernando Alonso with Max Verstappen would be better for Aston Martin
Juan Pablo Montoya, a seven-time F1 race winner, has expressed interest in advising Aston Martin to pursue a long-term deal with Max Verstappen, potentially replacing Fernando Alonso. He believes that Verstappen is currently the best F1 driver and that a long-term partnership with him would not only enhance the team's on-track performance but also drive commercial success.
"Because then it's a long-term project," he said. "Then you have one of the best drivers in the world, if not the best, the current best driver in the championship."
"The better he does, the more money he's going to make long term. Because the company is going to be worth even more," he added.
Verstappen currently has a contract with Red Bull, keeping him secure till the 2028 season; however, given his desire for success in the team's current state and with Adrian Newey moving to Aston Martin, he might consider an offer.
