2024 Aston Martin | Aramco F1 Team

[organic]

Wishing everyone a Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! Hope everyone is well.

Everything progressing well on 2026 PU. Just chipping away everyday.

Personally, I think it is good Tsunoda-kun did not go to Red Bull. I think he will be better off in the long run by not going there. The reasons are many.

[Jurgen von Diaz]

What do you guys think? Is Yuki on Aston Martin's shortlist? Alonso has a contract until 2026 and Lance seemingly until to the grave. Perhaps Yuki could be Aston Martin's reserve driver in 2026 and have a race seat in 2027.

[peewon]

What do you guys think? Is Yuki on Aston Martin's shortlist? Alonso has a contract until 2026 and Lance seemingly until to the grave. Perhaps Yuki could be Aston Martin's reserve driver in 2026 and have a race seat in 2027.

I think Honda certainly wants that. When they announced the partnership, Honda exec (Koji Watanabe?) was asked about this and their reply was basically that they wouldn't interfere with driver selections but would like to see a Japanese driver. This was before Alonso contract renewal.

I think it will largely depend on how 2026 goes. If Aston is competing for wins consistently, I can see both Alonso and AM extending for at least one more season. If Aston are nowhere, Alonso might call it quits himself.

[-wkst-]

Stroll hired ex WDCs, VET and ALO. And when everything is in place, around 2027, they will line up with TSU and STR? No chance.

They can attract top drivers, even if they are not at the top in 2026.

[NAPI10]

Stroll hired ex WDCs, VET and ALO. And when everything is in place, around 2027, they will line up with TSU and STR? No chance.

They can attract top drivers, even if they are not at the top in 2026.

Exactly...why AM will hire drivers rejected by other teams? AM's next target will be 'Max' or worst case scenario 'Sainz'.
TSU will get reserve seat with Honda influence at the most.

[peewon]

Stroll hired ex WDCs, VET and ALO. And when everything is in place, around 2027, they will line up with TSU and STR? No chance.

They can attract top drivers, even if they are not at the top in 2026.

Exactly...why AM will hire drivers rejected by other teams? AM's next target will be 'Max' or worst case scenario 'Sainz'.
TSU will get reserve seat with Honda influence at the most.

I was about to respond to wkst with those exact names (Max and Sainz) but the caveat there is that the project has to be in a position to win titles (in case of Max) and at least races for Carlos. Under those situations Alonso will likely want to continue at least one more year. If Max is available he might not have a choice but if the car is not fighting for wins, I can see Honda putting Yuki in one of the seats.

[SealTheRealDeal]

Stroll hired ex WDCs, VET and ALO. And when everything is in place, around 2027, they will line up with TSU and STR? No chance.

They can attract top drivers, even if they are not at the top in 2026.

I think Alonso's eventual replacement will be both a Honda driver and a serial champion. So Max Verstappen or (failing that) Alex Palou.

I could only really see Tsunoda get a ride if Honda launches a maximum pressure campaign against Lance, which isn't impossible but seems unlikely given Honda has said they won't interfere and they also seemingly didn't put up much of a fight to get Tsunoda promoted to the RBR seat.

[selvam_e2002]

Max still have more chance with Ferrari, Mercedes... instead of AM... AM may go with Norris or some one from Alonso academy... It seems Alonso not going anywhere from AM... if he wins 2025 WDC ...

[diffuser]

Stroll hired ex WDCs, VET and ALO. And when everything is in place, around 2027, they will line up with TSU and STR? No chance.

They can attract top drivers, even if they are not at the top in 2026.

Exactly...why AM will hire drivers rejected by other teams? AM's next target will be 'Max' or worst case scenario 'Sainz'.
TSU will get reserve seat with Honda influence at the most.

I was about to respond to wkst with those exact names (Max and Sainz) but the caveat there is that the project has to be in a position to win titles (in case of Max) and at least races for Carlos. Under those situations Alonso will likely want to continue at least one more year. If Max is available he might not have a choice but if the car is not fighting for wins, I can see Honda putting Yuki in one of the seats.

RBR are doing enough to keep Max happy, for the foreseeable future, max isn't going anywhere. RBR's competitiveness can change from year to year but many pieces need to fall into place for Max to end up at AMR. You need a down trend at RBR, you need big upswing at AMR and you need open driver slots at AMR to line up with that. The odds of Max ending up at AMR are still rather long.

Still baffles me, that with the number of things that can change between now and mid 2026, people are still will to talk about who will be driving for AMR in 2027.