F1 News: Fernando Alonso's Sly Alpine Dig In Aston Martin Comparison
Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso, who raced for Alpine before the 2023 season, revealed the key difference in the priorities between the two teams, emphasizing that the current team is focused on winning in Formula 1.
Alonso joined Aston Martin for the 2023 season on a multi-year contract, and his first year with the outfit has been an excellent one. He made it to the podium on several occasions, leading him to end the season with 206 points in the fourth position in the Drivers' Standings.
His former team Alpine went through a lot of shuffling in the management staff this year, which might have proved to be a morale issue for the team, with team principal Otmar Szafnauer and long-time sporting director Alan Permane also leaving. The outfit also received criticism for focussing on its sportscar sales alongside Formula 1, which might have led to a priority problem.
When the 42-year-old Aston Martin driver was asked for a comparison between the two teams, he highlighted a clear difference in priority. Though the British outfit does intend to sell its sports cars, the number one focus area remains F1. When asked about the criticism Alpine had been receiving for its marketing strategy and how that differs from the current team, Alonso told the media:
“Yeah, it’s probably different than Alpine for sure.
“I think this team is focused on winning and on racing for the next few years.
“This doesn’t mean that we don’t want to sell cars, and that will help the whole project.
“But yeah, first priority is to win in Formula 1 and then the rest of the things will just unfold naturally.”
Speaking on his move to Aston Martin, the Spaniard finds himself in a better position with a team that is much more dedicated to its work. He added:
“Yeah, it has been a good fit.
“I think the team is very young, very motivated, ready to embrace the next chapter in the project.
“I think after Lawrence [Stroll] arrived in the team and the ambitious project, I think everyone is just all in on this project.
“I’m happy when everyone is just dedicated to one mission, dedicated to win and focused on racing.
“I don’t know if it is the best or not in my career in terms of fit, and I remember Ferrari, me being Spanish and they are Italians, it was a very nice experience as well for me.”
