Aston Martin is delighted to welcome Fernando Alonso to the team
Aston Martin finished the championship in 5th place. In his first season with the Greens, Fernando Alonso established himself as a key player.
Fernando Alonso concluded his first season with Aston Martin by finishing fourth in the championship. The experienced two-time world champion quickly made people forget about Sebastian Vettel, who is also a triple champion. The Spaniard had committed himself during the 2022 season, displacing Alpine who had hoped to retain him.
Fernando Alonso distinguished himself not only with his talent but also with his strong personality. The 42-year-old athlete is not a fan of beating around the bush and has sometimes caused tumultuous departures from previous teams. In this context, Aston Martin was apprehensive about the new partnership with Fernando Alonso.
Doubts quickly dispelled
The 2005 world champion quickly dispelled Aston Martin’s concerns. In addition to very strong performances (six podium finishes in eight races), his experience greatly contributed to the British team. With 206 points accumulated throughout the season, he carried Aston Martin throughout. Furthermore, the team was delighted by the enthusiasm conveyed by the elder statesman of the grid.
“He has been a truly positive force, every day, from the moment he showed up for testing in Abu Dhabi in 2022,” said performance director Tom McCullough during a press conference. “He arrived fresh and eager. He provided excellent feedback and enjoyed the majority of what he was able to observe. He supported us by pointing out areas where he thought we needed to improve the car.”
A significant contribution
Although Fernando Alonso has been an iconic figure in Formula 1 over the past 20 years, the performance director admitted to not particularly knowing the driver. While being familiar with his temperament and talent on the track, the British engineer was surprised by the significant contribution of the Spaniard.
“This year, it was essential,” praised Tom McCullough. “I didn’t know him particularly before this year. I had somewhat of an idea of what he was like and what he would bring, but he has been very impressive in his attitude and in what he has undertaken. He pushed hard while being very impactful in his feedback. His skills are impressive.”
If Aston Martin did not win the development battle for the 2023 season, the English team quickly turned its attention to 2024. The AMR23 started 2023 with an advantage over its competitors, allowing Mike Krack’s team to gain the upper hand for the next car. In the span of a season, Aston Martin gained two positions in the championship. Thanks to a highly effective Fernando Alonso, the English garage accumulated 225 more points than in 2022.
