Take note Lawrence Stroll: Hamilton and Alonso show Lance how its done

Adrian Newey is officially on the market and available to sign. The Brit is often named the greatest of all time when it comes to designing Formula 1 cars, and his statistics back that up. With someone, who has so much talent, available for the majority of 2025 and beyond, you do all you can to impress and advertise yourself. Yet Lance Stroll appeared dazed and uninterested in engaging in the topic. What message does that send to Newey?

Time to make your pitch

Newey's future is really unclear. He will leave Red Bull Racing after the first quarter in 2025 and will be free to go anywhere immediately. He is not tied down with a lengthy gardening leave period. The 65-year-old could well retire. Nobody would blame him. But he himself hinted at seeking new challenges. Those could lie outside of Formula 1. 

However, it seems that Ferrari have the best chance of signing Newey. It's a brand Newey has demonstrated love for and is interested in working with Lewis Hamilton. Aston Martin have also been mentioned a lot. The team are based in the United Kingdom, so he wouldn't have to move. He would continue working with Honda like he currently does at Red Bull. 

But let's be honest: every team on the grid would be interested in signing Newey if they had the money and resources. It could turn into a bidding war, but now is the time to make your pitch.

Alonso and Hamilton did just that. Both of them waxed lyrical about the designer's achievements within Formula 1, praising him for his hard work and expressing how amazing it would be to work with him. "This is all private conversation stuff, but if I was to do a list of people that I'd love to work with, he would absolutely be at the top of that," Hamilton said.

"I consider him the best Formula 1 probably ever had, a legend of the sport, and I feel in a way privileged to drive alongside him in the paddock and obviously as a competitor. But I feel lucky to be part of his journey, and he was part of my journey as well in a way because I competed against his cars," Alonso said.

How did Stroll advertise working with Newey?

"I guess time will tell. Lewis already said that one." That was all Stroll could say during the press conference. You could say Stroll didn't make much of an impression if Newey was listening. But in actual fact, he probably did. Newey will want to feel respected, welcome and free to do what he wants to do. Stroll sold him the exact opposite. 

Perhaps Stroll knows something the rest of the paddock doesn't know. Perhaps it's already confirmed he will not join Aston Martin. But then what message does that send to other potential staff members? If Lawerence Stroll really wants to make this Aston Martin project work, then maybe it's time to look at other options and have a difficult conversation.