Alonso is « proud and happy » about the Aston Martin season
Aston Martin occupies the 5th place in the constructors' ranking. Although the mixed performances in the second half of the season contrast with an impressive start to the year, Alonso is satisfied with his team.
After an impressive start to the season, Aston Martin has taken a hit in the past few Grand Prix races. In the first three race weekends, the team formerly known as Racing Point consistently achieved podium finishes with Fernando Alonso. In the fourth race, they secured a 4th place finish. Together, they quickly established themselves as the second strongest force on the grid, with well-balanced cars that performed better in races than their competitors (excluding Red Bull).
However, with inefficient improvements and the progress of other teams such as McLaren and Mercedes, Lawrence Stroll’s team has dropped in the rankings and is no longer among the top constructors at this stage of the season.
Since the Dutch Grand Prix in August, Aston Martin has not registered any podiums. However, Fernando Alonso is convinced that the car had a consistent pace throughout the year. “I believe that the sensations and the season have been more consistent than what the results show,” said the Spanish driver during the press conference preceding the Mexican Grand Prix. “We have always balanced the highs and lows. We have always been very focused on the car’s performance and tried to improve as a team.”
A convincing season
Aston Martin has seen significant financial progress. In the 2022 championship, Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll together earned 55 points, placing the British team 7th at the end of the season. Vettel, Aston Martin’s highest ranked driver, finished 11th with 37 points. In 2023, the British team is expected to finish at least 5th among the constructors. A good step forward.
Propelled by the great Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin has accumulated 236 points before the Mexican Grand Prix. « Two years ago, this organization had 250 people. Now, we are only a few points away from the top teams in the championship, and we have tasted several podium finishes this year. », declared the former Alpine driver. « We also have this new factory and about 200 more points than last year. So, it has been an incredible 2023 campaign for Aston Martin. I know that we are starting to resemble football more and that only the last result seems to matter. But we cannot forget where we come from and what the project is about. Therefore, I am very proud of this season so far. »
Alonso confident for 2024.
Regarding the long-term development of the car and the team, the 42-year-old driver remains confident in his team. He exclaimed during the press conference, “I think we will be much more confident in 2024 than this year. We have learned a lot throughout the season, including off-track aspects like development of the car during the season and the direction of development. This season has been very meaningful, not only for the results themselves but also for establishing a competitive mindset within the team for the future. I am very proud and happy with this season.”
