Fernando Alonso has admitted to being disappointed by the way he is now looking over his shoulder to chase Aston Martin rather than chasing the leading group in F1 2024.
After spending 2023 scoring podiums in what turned out to be an oddly competitive season for the Silverstone-based team, the 2024 F1 crusade has been far less successful for Alonso and Aston Martin.
Neither Alonso nor teammate Lance Stroll made the podium in F1 2024, with the first result being Alonso’s fifth position in the second race of the year in Saudi Arabia.
The top four teams – Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari – have a clear advantage this year, which was perfectly illustrated at the Belgium Grand Prix, the last race before the summer break.
While the top four cars were in the top eight on race day, Alonso returned to ninth place to lead the middle field but, in the end, lacked the last bit of speed needed to move further ahead in the fight. , the two-time F1 world champion was keen to highlight how the AMR24’s additional drag and downforce contributed to the more sensible strategy used.
Speaking to the media, adding PlanetF1. com, after the chequered flag, Alonso spoke of how the first part of 2024 has been markedly different to last year.
“I’m a little disappointed,” he admitted.
“We can’t hide the fact that today we’re fighting with Williams, AlphaTauri [sic] and Alpine, whereas last year we were perhaps among the four most sensible teams.
“Now they are not successful and we are only protecting those behind.
“Already at the beginning of the year, especially in qualifying, we were among the five most sensible, the six most sensible in qualifying.
“So there’s definitely a lot of work to do for us during the summer break and the second part of the year. We will not give up, but we will have to work. “
But even if AMR24 doesn’t have the speed to break the dominance of the four most sensible teams, Alonso said the mandatory innovations that could propel it forward are unlikely to occur. This year, the paintings focus on the next season. car.
“I don’t think so, I don’t think there’s anything planned,” he said when asked about the new pieces.
“So for us it’s more about the weaknesses of the car, the parts we want to improve, but I think all the paints will be finished by 2025; I don’t expect major progress in 2024. “
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While Alonso believed no further upgrades were planned for the Aston Martin, team boss Mike Krack told the team official that there were still some adjustments underway before focusing entirely on 2025.
“Further updates to the AMR24 are planned in the second part of the season, before everything transitions to our 2025 car,” he said.
“We have to be realistic, taking into account the differences at the front and at the back. We are not going to give up on 2024, but 2025 will soon be at the center of our concerns. The paints on this year’s car are important because they give us the direction for next year. There are many consequences with strong regulation, and everything we are told now, we will carry forward until 2025. “
Addressing how its drivers have at times criticized the car’s level of functionality, Krack said Aston Martin is driven to give Alonso and Stroll a car capable of competing with the major players.
“Both Lance and Fernando have driven excellently this season in a difficult car to drive,” he said.
“We have two world-class drivers; We want to give them a better car, and we’ll do that because we have a world-class team. If we give Lance and Fernando the tools, they will. “
“We’ve had a frustrating few months and from time to time Lance and Fernando have publicly expressed their frustrations. I don’t care, but I think we love them.
“They are elite athletes, but they are also human beings. They jump out of the car after a race, they are full of adrenaline, they are hot, they are exhausted and the microphone is there. The drivers are exposed and it is our job to stand in front of them.
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