Lawrence Stroll reportedly wants engine partner Honda to contribute to paying marquee driver Fernando Alonso's salary as the British constructor navigates high-stakes contract negotiations. The two-time world champion is currently seeking a substantial pay raise and a two-year extension as his current deal approaches its expiration at the end of the season.
Fernando Alonso currently sits without a confirmed Formula 1 contract for 2027, leaving his long-term future with the Silverstone-based squad uncertain amid a challenging start to the new regulatory era. Rumors had previously linked the 45-year-old veteran with a sensational return to Alpine, though the French team recently locked in their driver lineup for the upcoming year.
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SubscribeFormula 1 business journalist Marc Limacher revealed that the Aston Martin owner is looking for the Japanese manufacturer to shoulder a portion of Alonso's multi-million-dollar salary demands starting in 2027. Stroll is also pushing for Honda to increase its overall financial contribution to the team's operational budget as they chase front-running competitiveness.
The financial discussions arrive at a critical juncture as Aston Martin and Honda attempt to iron out performance wrinkles following the debut of the new ADUO-spec power unit at the Dutch Grand Prix. While the team secured a morale-boosting ninth-place finish at Zandvoort, internal focus remains heavily fixed on resolving power unit drivability and financial logistics for the future.
Fernando Alonso Evaluates Aston Martin Upgrades
Fernando Alonso described the team's performance at the Dutch Grand Prix as another positive step forward, highlighting the extensive refinements made to the chassis over the summer break. The veteran driver praised the technical direction led by Adrian Newey, noting that the squad is beginning to unlock a deeper understanding of their development path.
"We made some good refinements to the package and used the summer break wisely to analyze our data," Alonso reflected following the race weekend at Zandvoort. The Spaniard emphasized that every incremental gain counts as the team fights to climb back up the competitive midfield order.
Despite the chassis improvements, the newly introduced Honda power unit did not deliver the immediate performance leap the team had anticipated ahead of the weekend. Alonso pointed out that specific issues regarding drivability, downshifts, and engine braking continue to hinder the AMR26 on track.
Addressing the lingering mechanical hurdles, Alonso explained that it remains difficult to pinpoint exactly where the power unit underperformed during the race simulation. As engineering teams work frantically to bridge the gap to the frontrunners, resolving these technical roadblocks will prove just as vital as finalizing the driver's financial package.