Peter Windsor outlines the ‘worst thing’ Lance Stroll can let Adrian Newey do at Aston Martin

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Aston Martin is fast becoming one of the most exciting Formula 1 teams on the grid after it signed legendary designer Adrian Newey.

Talk has turned to whether they can challenge for titles as early as 2026 when F1 adopts brand new chassis and power unit regulations, given Newey’s expertise in exploiting performance gains from early regulation changes.

Fernando Alonso agreed to commit his future with the team through to 2026, while Lance Stroll also had his rolling contract extended despite his underwhelming results in the last two years.

Stroll is under pressure to improve his results and with a car that has been designed under Newey’s watch, there will be increased focus on whether he can match Alonso or back him up in a title fight.

Speaking on his YouTube live stream, Peter Windsor believes team owner Lawrence Stroll must have an important conversation with Newey to help suit his son’s needs compared to Alonso.

Adrian Newey must take separate feedback from Lance Stroll

Newey’s influence on Aston Martin’s car designs will not be instant, with focus also more likely to be on the 2026 car when he joins in March next year.

Windsor believes Newey must take separate feedback from Stroll due to how different they set up their cars on track, as Alonso tends to prefer more understeer in his car.

“He’s done a million days now with Rob Wilson, imagine what he would be like if he didn’t do them. The worst thing Lance can do is let Adrian gravitate towards Fernando in terms of feedback. We know with his [Alonso’s] setup; Lance can’t drive it because it’s too much understeer,” said Windsor.

“Lawrence Stroll needs to say to Adrian ‘Whatever conversations you have with Alonso, you will have separate ones with my son.'”

Lance Stroll must improve form against Fernando Alonso

So far in 2024, Stroll has out-qualified Alonso on only five occasions while his best result is sixth on track at the Japanese Grand Prix.

This follows another difficult campaign in 2023 that saw Alonso finish 132 points and six spots ahead in the Drivers’ Championship, with Stroll arguably costing them fourth in the Constructors’ Championship.

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Former F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve has questioned whether Stroll wanted to ever be in F1, given his current demeanour when asked by journalists about his performances on track.

This is his sixth year racing for Aston Martin having joined the team in 2018 and he is now a veteran of more than 150 Grand Prix starts. When the 2026 regulations come around, he will be in his ninth year of F1.