Alonso on Verstappen threatening his seat at Aston Martin: 'Welcome to the team'

Max Verstappen has been linked to a transfer to Aston Martin for a while now. In Jeddah, the British team's leader, Fernando Alonso reacted to the rumours surrounding the reigning F1 champion claiming he'd welcome Verstappen to the Silverstone-based outfit.

Is Alonso threatened by the rumours linking Verstappen to Aston Martin though? Since the team's second driver, is the owner Lawrence Stroll's son, Lance Stroll, making it highly unlikely that the young Canadian driver be put out to pasture by his own father.

Good that Verstappen is linked to Aston Martin amidst F1 transfer rumours

"I don't think so, as I have contract for next year," says Alonso during the FIA Drivers' press conference on Thursday. "But I see the rumors, [and they're] very good for the team," so only good news sees Alonso.

"The world champion is sometimes linked with some other teams and a possible departure from Red Bull and the teams that they are commenting are Mercedes, Aston Martin and Ferrari. So this shows the project that we are in and the future that this team has".

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Alonso would welcome current F1 champion, Verstappen, to Aston Martin

For Alonso, the longevity of his career in F1 will depend on certain factors, highlighting however, that his committment to Aston Martin goes beyond his F1 racing years.

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"As I said always, even last year when I extended the contract, I said that I will drive for as long as I feel fast and I feel competitive and the team needs me behind the wheel, but my contract is much longer than my racing career, so I will stay with this team for many, many years in a different role."

"And if that means that we can win a World Championship championship even when I'm not behind the wheel I will still feel very proud of the project."

When asked if he would welcome Verstappen as a teammate, the Spaniard answered: "Yes, but it's unlikely to happen."