Fernando Alonso believes Aston Martin will be a title contender in 2024
Despite having just begun fighting for podiums, the team aims to be title contenders as early as 2024
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Fernando Alonso via The SportsRush
Fernando Alonso moved to Aston Martin for the 2023 season, leaving Alpine, puzzling fans and the paddock alike. The move from a team that was fourth fastest, to one that was barely competing in the midfield, seemed questionable at the time. He replaced Sebastian Vettel and hoped to enjoy success with the team, which the German couldn’t. His gamble has clearly paid off so far.
The team from Silverstone has currently bagged three podiums on the go, courtesy of the Spaniard’s blistering form. When asked his thoughts on Aston Martin’s trajectory, Alonso said, “I was hoping 2023 to be a learning season and in 2024 maybe to be challenging Ferrari and Mercedes and things like that. Now we have to deliver. This is something we will see very soon.” The veteran is clearly optimistic about his new outfit’s chances of challenging at the top in the following season, by staying on their current course.
Alonso added, “From Baku, Imola, Barcelona, the teams will start to bring upgrades to the car and we need to also be a top team in that regard. On-track, but also off-track we need to learn many things throughout this season to be a contender in 2024 hopefully.” He is clearly still motivated despite his career being in its closing years and has the drive to challenge for the title with his new team.
Aston Martin’s surprise title charge will be met with strong opposition
The British team astonished the Formula One world at the start of the 2023 season, emerging as the surprise competitors toward the front of the grid, contrary to their poor showings the prior season. Aston Martin recruited two-time world champion Fernando Alonso to be the one to guide them toward their goals on track, and so far, the Spaniard hasn’t disappointed.
Fernando Alonso has secured the team appearances on the podium in all three races this season, taking full advantage of their leap in development. They now possess a pace superior to Ferrari, challenging that of Mercedes. Although Red Bull is currently a class apart, with consistent upgrades and the right developmental breakthroughs, Aston Martin could be considered challenging at the top. They possess the ideal financial backing, courtesy of Lawrence Stroll, and there is no shortage of passion or desire for victory in the team, with drivers and staff alike demanding more despite their ongoing success.
The true test they face, in opposition to their ambitions to challenge at the top, will be keeping up with the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari as they implement upgrades and development of their own. Should they hope to stay on their current trajectory, the team’s in-season development rate must be able to match the likes of the Scuderia and the Silver Arrows, teams who are accustomed to being at the top and stand to be formidable opponents.
Aston Marin currently sits at 65 points, second in the Constructor’s championship. To further this, they must maintain their momentum, and avoid unnecessary setbacks, as any hindrance to current progress will allow Mercedes and Ferrari to leave them in the dust. Mercedes and Ferrari are both looking to bring major upgrades to Baku, after the long 4-week break in between race weekends, which threatens to cut into Aston Martin’s advantage. Their title ambitions for 2024 will be tested, based on their performances in coping with the likes of the teams from Brackley and Maranello this season.
Given Aston Martin’s current form and the positive atmosphere in the team, Alonso’s prediction for his new family to be competing at the top seems to have a strong basis, with him already claiming that their winter breakthroughs have put them a year ahead of schedule in their bid to fight for a championship. However, the deciding factor will be the consistency of their development in comparison to their competitors, which will be revealed in the coming weeks.
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Justin P Joy
(4859 Articles Published)