Alonso: Stroll's big Montreal objective an 'aggressive target'

Fernando Alonso says Lawrence Stroll's claim that Aston Martin can put both its drivers on the podium in Montreal is an "aggressive target".

Ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, the Aston Martin executive chairman said that an upgrade package introduced in Montreal and a track well-suited for its car will provide his F1 team with a genuine chance of scoring a double-podium finish at the Stroll family's home race.

"Those are exactly the plans. Hopefully get two cars on the podium," Stroll Sr. said while speaking at an Aston Martin event in New York.

"I’m extremely confident. I believe the car will be very strong around the Montreal circuit, it suits our car well."

• Read also: Stroll confident of double podium for Aston in Montreal

In Spain, after a relatively subdued display by Aston Martin, Alonso reckoned that Aston would once again perform as the second-best team on the grid behind Red Bull.

But a double-podium finish is a tall order admitted the two-time world champion.

"You never know. But it is an aggressive target for the weekend," Alonso said.

"But we know Lawrence, the ambition of his is super high, always. We will try to make him happy and proud in his home Grand Prix."

Alonso is a one-time winner in Canada, having enjoyed a victory all the way back in 2006. But since then, the assets a driver needs to perform well at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve haven't changed.

"You need to have confidence in the car, it is the same as a street circuit," he said.

"You get very close to the walls and you need to ride the kerbs as well aggressively. It is a very bumpy circuit, weather normally plays a factor here as it will do again this weekend.

"Getting some experience is always good, [it’s my] 17th or 18th Canadian Grand Prix. So that will always help."

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter