Fernando Alonso hails the vision of Lawrence Stroll for the upward trajectory for Aston Martin, as he talks about getting a 33rd F1 win.
After a solid start to its 2023 F1 campaign, Alonso has credited the vision and ambition of Aston Martin’s owner Stroll for the success. He reckons without his and the senior management’s leadership, this step wasn’t possible for them.
He feels Aston Martin is willing to do everything to win which puts them ahead from the other teams. “I think you need to have the vision and the ambition of Lawrence Stroll, or our leadership and our management because the opportunities are there for everybody but it seems that only one team is willing to do whatever it takes to win,” said Alonso.
“And I’m proud to be part of this organisation.” Having secured third in the closing stages of Bahrain race, Alonso took it slow with the car. On the good side, he says this is only the start of their long-term project, so they are still learning more about the base car.
“There are a couple of areas that we have to improve that I will not share,” said Alonso. “But I think the most important point is that the new Aston Martin is just a new car, a new project. This is just the beginning. This is not the final car, this is just the starting car of this concept that we changed over winter.
“I think some of the top teams they just kept the philosophy that they had last year. Red Bull or Ferrari they kept more of the same shapes. Just, fine-tuning things and making perfection of that good baseline that they had. For us, it was much more difficult. We have to change 95% of the car.
“So, I guess there is more to learn from the car, and there is more to come on our side. So full trust in our team, obviously they know what they do. So let’s hopefully improve soon,” summed up Alonso. Despite the good start, the Spaniard is not holding back as he reckons the upcoming circuits will showcase if their car is an all-rounder.
“I think, like, I have the same feeling from testing, like, too good to be true,” stated Alonso. “And you’re always expecting that something will get… 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.
“They have high-speed corners, 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,” summed up Alonso. Now with the start he has had, the Spaniard reckons he could think of a race win.
The last time he stepped on the top step of the podium was in 2013 Spanish GP with Ferrari and its been nearly a decade of wait to move from 32 to 33. “I would say yes because when you are P3 in race one, there are 22 opportunities this season,” said Alonso “And even last year, I remember in Canada, wet qualifying, we were in the first row of the grid. Anything can happen in 22 races with different conditions.
“And, I will try my best to do have the opportunity. Maybe we need some help. Last year, we needed some help from the top teams just to get the podium. Maybe this year, if there is this help or there is some retirements in front of us or some problems maybe it’s more than a podium. So let’s hope for that,” summed up Alonso.
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