Fernando Alonso believes Aston Martin's performance in Bahrain was no fluke, but the Spaniard would feel really confident for the remainder of the season if the team upholds its form in the next two races.
After qualifying fourth at Sakhir, Alonso struggled to get a grip on reality and insisted the performance was simply "too good to be true".
And after his impressive run last Sunday during which his Aston AMR23 outpaced both Mercedes contenders and the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz to finish third, Alonso was again left rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
The two-time world champion says next week's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but also Melbourne, should deliver a more accurate verdict on Aston Martin's true position in F1's pecking order.
"I have the same feeling from testing, like, too good to be true," explained Alonso after conquering last weekend his 99th career podium in F1.
"You're always expecting that you will get a step back and you will get back to reality, but it seems real, the performance.
"Let’s see in Jeddah. I am curious to go to Jeddah and Australia. Very different circuits, and I think Max touched on before, high-speed corners and very little degradation.
"I think in Bahrain, we were strong in things that maybe we don't find in Jeddah, and Australia. So, if we are strong in the next two races, I think we will have a very good 2023."
Aston's performance in Bahrain has inevitably led to speculation over Alonso's chances of winning a race this season, an achievement he last enjoyed almost a decade ago, in Barcelona in 2013.
The 41-year-old reckons that "anything can happen" depending on conditions, even an opportunity to stand once again on the top step of the podium.
"I would say yes because when you are P3 in race one, there are 22 opportunities this season," he said.
"Even last year, I remember in Canada, [there was] a wet qualifying and we were on the first row of the grid, so anything can happen in 22 races with different conditions.
"I will try my best to have the opportunity, maybe we need some help, last year we needed some help from the top teams just to get to the podium.
"Maybe this year, if there is this help or some retirements or problems in front of us, maybe it is more than a podium – so let's hope for that."
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