Aston Martin has yet to become a regular front-runner in Formula 1, but Fernando Alonso insists his team's ambitions and future plans are unmatched by any other outfit on the grid.
The Silverstone-based outfit’s journey in F1 has been a whirlwind since Lawrence Stroll acquired the remnants of Force India in 2018.
The Canadian billionaire hasn’t shied away from investment since the outfit donned the Aston Martin badge in 2021, with the construction of a brand-new state-of-the-art base and factory just one facet of his commitment.
And the dedication is paying off, with Aston slowly but surely emerging as a podium threat. But while this is a welcome change, it’s merely a stepping stone for Stroll whose ultimate goal is nothing less than world championship glory.
Whispers abound that Stroll has gone all in in his efforts to secure the services of Red Bull design guru Adrian Newey to further propel Aston Martin’s technical prowess.
Alonso steered clear of directly addressing these rumors when he announced the prolongation of his commitment to the British outfit earlier this week.
Yet, his message resonated loud and clear – Aston Martin is a team on an upward trajectory, fueled by an unparalleled hunger for success.
“There is no other team in the paddock with the ambition and the plans for the future that Aston has,” he said. “But at the same time, you need to achieve those goals and you need to deliver those results.
“This team was very new two years ago. It doubled more or less the amount of people that worked in the factory. They were in an old Jordan building, now they are in a super modern factory.
“Last year we had a very fast car, and we had to learn a lot of lessons off track of how to develop the car to match the top teams. This year, we are matching that kind of development. So, I think they're all very good signs.
“But ultimately you need to win races and to win championships, and this is the hard step.”
Unlike last year, when Aston Martin began its campaign as Red Bull’s primary challenger, the team currently trails its Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes rivals in the championship's early stages.
But Aston’s relative stagnation isn’t a concern for Alonso.
“I'm very happy,” he said. “I think I was happy last year, and I am still happy now. And I feel good with the team. I would love to be in a stronger position.
“Last year, we were fighting for bigger things at the beginning of the year, and we were in more or less this position at the end of last year; fifth fastest team.
“This year, it seems that we have a roadmap for developing the car that is a little bit more aggressive and more in line with a top team that wants to fight for big things and I'm happy to see that.”
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