F1 News: Fernando Alonso Puts Pressure On Aston Martin For 2024 - "Have To Deliver"
Fernando Alonso has expressed a strong call to action for Aston Martin as they approach the 2024 season, emphasising the need for performance in Formula 1, which he starkly says is “not a charity event.” His comments follow a season of mixed fortunes for the team, where despite a promising start, they faced challenges and finished fifth in the Constructors' standings.
Key Takeaways:
- Alonso's performance in the past season, including six podiums in the first eight races and finishing fourth in the Drivers' standings, has raised expectations for Aston Martin in 2024.
- Despite a strong start, problems with upgrades and the resurgence of Ferrari and Mercedes saw Aston Martin slip to fifth place, a position Alonso feels doesn't reflect their potential.
- With Aston Martin’s ambitions and infrastructure growing, Alonso stresses the importance of continuing forward momentum.
Fernando Alonso's recent remarks have put a spotlight on Aston Martin's aspirations and the pressures facing the team as they gear up for the 2024 Formula 1 season. After a transformative phase that saw the team evolve from its earlier identity and show promising potential, expectations are now soaring. Alonso, a key figure in this journey, delivered impressive performances in the past season, notably securing six podium finishes in the first eight races. This feat catapulted Aston Martin into an early position as Red Bull's closest rival.
However, the season's trajectory wasn't a smooth ascent. The team grappled with developmental challenges, particularly with upgrades that didn't yield the expected boost. This situation combined with the resurgence of Ferrari and Mercedes, both of which introduced new car concepts, saw Aston Martin move down in the rankings. The result was a slip to the fifth position in the Constructors' Championship, a standing that Alonso believes belies the team's true capabilities.
In an interview with MotorsportWeek, the Spanish driver commented:
“This is Formula 1, this is not a charity event.
“We have to have the pressure, we have to deliver.
“I mean the fifth in the Constructors hurts a little bit as I think we were better than that or we were hoping better than that at the beginning of the year.
“On the Drivers to finish fourth is a little bit unreal, fighting with the guys that we were fighting. In fact, if we are fifth in the Constructors usually you should be ninth and tenth in the Drivers, so it’s a dream season for many people in Aston Martin, including myself.”
Alonso continued:
“Yeah, it’s going to be important [to have a good car], because obviously this is the first step of hopefully a good progress in the team.
“We always said this is year one of Aston Martin being competitive – a lot of changes in the team, the new factory, all these things we’ve been saying for a long time.
“If next year if we do a step backwards that will be bad, so we need to keep moving forward. We finished fifth in the Constructors, we need to improve that next year. Fourth, third, second, whatever, will be welcome.
“In my case, after eight podiums this year, hopefully I can do something similar next.”
