Alonso noted that the unexpected streak of podium finishes in 2023’s beginning, and expressed that every weekend feels like a “celebration” for the team as they reflect on their progress from a year ago.
After achieving six top positions in the initial eight races, the team’s performance has declined due to McLaren’s progress and Mercedes consistently being at the forefront.
Alonso maintains that he is not concerned, as the team is currently in a significantly better position compared to this time last year.
“The team is in high morale,” stated the Spaniard. “To be honest, it feels like a celebration every weekend, every week we have. I recall last year when we were at Spa, I arrived here after the August break upon signing the contract. At that time, they held the ninth position in the constructors’ championship, with only Williams trailing behind.”
“We find ourselves facing Ferrari, for instance, which is truly remarkable. Therefore, the initial portion of 2023 has been entirely unexpected.”
From the start, we had great speed and continue to appreciate the positive aspects of this vehicle, such as the new factory, the renewed enthusiasm within the team, and various other elements.
In recent events, our performance has clearly declined. However, it is not as severe as the press conferences suggest. Last weekend, we were only four tenths of a second away from securing pole position, which is an impressive achievement considering our performance in the 2022 campaign. Nevertheless, we ended up in eighth place.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team
Photo by: Erik Junius
Alonso expressed that the team’s recent challenges have had a positive impact in terms of setting them on the correct path for the upcoming season.
“We acknowledge the need for self-improvement,” he stated. “We are not concealing the fact that we have experienced a decline in performance during recent events. However, we are actively addressing these challenges, as they will ultimately contribute to the team’s growth and resilience.”
“If our season is too simple, we won’t be getting ready for 2024. Therefore, facing challenging weekends and comprehending the car, as well as understanding our primary rivals, will only enhance the team’s strength in the long run.”
I am not pleased with being slow, but there were occasions during the season where it was necessary to experience challenging weekends.
Additional reporting by Oleg Karpov
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