Aston Martin faces the Dutch Grand Prix with important updates to its AMR23 car, including new flooring, and with a clear objective: to recover the competitive level it exhibited in the first grand prix of the season and which allowed Fernando Alonso to link six podiums. The Asturian has returned from vacation with a wide smile despite the adverse weather at the Zandvoort circuit. And in the first question of his press conference he was forceful: “Yes, I hope to return to the podium this weekend.”
The last appointments before the summer break were not positive for Aston Martin, which saw how the evolutions successfully introduced in Canada hampered its performance in the following races. Now, the Silverstone team is working hard to correct the course in the car’s development and in Zandvoort they will debut aerodynamic improvements. “In Canada we have new parts, also at Silverstone and now here there is new aerodynamics that we hope will work,” Alonso added.
“It was somewhat unexpected to see how competitive we were in the first few races and how we maximized how competitive we were. In the second half of the season, we want to get back to a more competitive positioneverything is very even and we want to be in that fight until the last race“, said Fernando, aware that the front area of the grid has been compacted, with the exception of Red Bull and Verstappen, launched towards the title. “There are four teams fighting for podiums, it is tight with Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren and it will be difficult to make another six podium finishes in the second half of the season. I wouldn’t be disappointed if I don’t get on the podium anymore, the fight is tough right now, but I’ll be happy with two or three more,” he added.
Regarding his fight for third place in the World Cup with Hamilton, who is only one point away, Fernando has been prudent: “Every weekend will be different, there will be ups and downs and it will change in each race depending on everyone’s improvements. In recent tests, Mercedes has been a little faster than us and we have been somewhat more inconsistent” said Alonso, who recalled that “In Formula 1 things change very quickly.. We have done very well throughout the year to achieve these results and now we are playing in the Champions League, against very strong rivals who have surpassed us in development outside the circuit. Aston Martin has a great challenge ahead and now we have to find a good direction for this year and also for 2024.”
Alonso arrives with his batteries ‘charged’ after the summer break: “I have not met anyone this summer. I have been in Spain, but not in Ibiza or Mallorca, I have been at home, with the family. We all need some time out, especially the mechanics and the end in Abu Dhabi is still too far away”, he explained.
2023-08-24 13:27:51
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