F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Alonso: Aston F1 challenge like competing in 'Champion's League'

Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin's current position in F1 is like a football team gaining access to the "Champion's League", and it's a challenge the Silverstone-based outfit must embrace insists the Spaniard.

Aston Martin has been something of a revelation this season in F1 thanks to the team's spectacular progress year-over-year.

Aston hit the ground running in Bahrain and upheld its momentum thereafter with Fernando Alonso delivering five podiums in the first six races of the year and another runner-up spot in Montreal.

However, the team's performance abated after Canada, with the two-time world champion failing to finish higher than fifth in the last four rounds while Aston also lost its second-place position in F1's Constructors' standings to Mercedes.

But Alonso is confident that his team can recapture its momentum in the back half of the season.

"It was unexpected, in a way, how competitive the team was from the first race," Alonso said. "We found ourselves in a very strong position, so we maximised every opportunity in the first few races.

"In the last few events, we were maybe not as competitive as the first part of the year, but we still scored points in every single weekend. Now in the second part of the year, I think we want to go back to a more competitive position.

"I think everything is so tight now behind Red Bull with Mercedes, Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren – so we want to be in that fight until Abu Dhabi. And that’s the aim."

©AstonMartin

While the progress displayed by Aston at the outset of its campaign showcased the qualities of its AMR23 design, Alonso insists the team's great results were also rooted in its near flawless execution on race weekends, not to mention its car's strong reliability.

"I think it was a surprise for us that the car was fast, but I think the team was outstanding over the winter, understanding what the problems were last year," he explained.

"I think reliability, strategy – everything – we did things really good in most of the races to get those results.

"It’s not only the pace of the car, you need to master everything in the weekend from free practice one until Sunday."

As Aston now finds itself racing among F1's front-runners, Alonso suggested that the team's current status, and the challenges it faces, equate to playing in football's prestigious Champion's League.

"I think we are like playing in [the] Champions League at the moment and we are finding ourselves with the very top teams, trying to develop as well as off track.

"This is going to be the biggest challenge for Aston Martin now."

©AstonMartin

Team Silverstone has introduced several new elements on its car for this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, and Alonso is hopeful that the upgrades will help boost its car's performance in the second part of the season but will also benefit its 2024 contender.

"To get a clear direction, not only for this year but also for next year, in terms of direction on the car," he said when asked about his expectations regarding the AMR23's latest updates.

"I think in Canada we brought some new parts, as well as Silverstone, and now these new aerodynamic parts that we bring here, hopefully are performing as we expect."

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

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

McLaren’s 2024 Season: A triumph 26 years in the making

McLaren roared back to the pinnacle of Formula 1 in 2024, clinching their first Constructors'…

12 mins ago

Lawson opens up about online abuse following Red Bull promotion

Liam Lawson has revealed that he became the target of online abuse by fans of…

2 hours ago

Norris and Leclerc agree: Sainz 'deserves to fight at the front'

As Carlos Sainz prepares for a new chapter in his Formula 1 career with Williams,…

3 hours ago

Sebastian Montoya steps up to Formula 2 with Prema

Sebastian Montoya, the 19-year-old son of former Formula 1 star Juan Pablo Montoya, is set…

18 hours ago

Sauber finds its ‘Northern Star’ under Binotto’s leadership

When former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto took on the role of Chief Operating Officer…

20 hours ago

Leclerc hails a season ‘without missed opportunities' in 2024

Charles Leclerc concluded the 2024 F1 season with a sense of satisfaction, the Ferrari driver…

21 hours ago