'You avoid problems with Alonso by being open and honest with him'

Newly appointed Aston Martin ambassador Pedro de la Rosa does not think Fernando Alonso' s arrival is going to cause any problems. According to De la Rosa, Alonso is not a difficult guy at all.

On Thursday, Aston Martin announced that De la Rosa is stepping in as the team's new ambassador. The former Formula One driver will mainly play a role in marketing and communications, but was asked by Motorsport.com also asked about the driver situation. Indeed, with Alonso, a two-time world champion will come to the team in 2023.

Is Alonso causing problems

Alonso will replace the departing Vettel in 2023, giving the British team another figurehead to snare. Alonso, at 41, is still proving to be very fast, but his Spanish temperament has also caused many a relationship to break down in the past. De la Rosa is a friend of Alonso and does not see why Fernando's arrival would be a problem for the team.

A common criticism, is that Alonso would be too hard on his teams. According to his compatriot, however, this has to do with the fact that English is not Alonso's mother tongue, and therefore it sometimes comes across as harsher than he means. Transparency, according to De la Rosa, is the key. ''So as long as you always tell him exactly what's going on, and what is the truth, you will never have a problem with him.''

According to the former McLaren and Jaguar driver, among others, it is therefore important for Aston Martin to be open with Alonso. The Spaniard is locked in for two years and hopes to be competitive with his team during that time. Early in 2022, Vettel and Lance Stroll were still struggling to score points, but the development of the AMR22 seems to be heading in the right direction. A strong final sprint left the team fighting for sixth place among constructors in the closing stages of the season. In 2023, it will be hoping for more.