Aston Martin would’ve won Monaco GP over Max Verstappen if they had a younger driver instead of Fernando Alonso, claims ex-F1 driver

Fernando Alonso's quest for a race win continues after he missed out in Monaco

Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso (Credits: The Independent and The Telegraph)

The Monaco Grand Prix saw Fernando Alonso qualify for P2, giving him arguably his best chance to take a race win this season. The straights being minimal around the streets of Monte Carlo dealt Red Bull’s overwhelming straight-line speed a big blow. However, the Spaniard couldn’t beat them, and took P2 in a rain-affected race.

Renowned former F1 and Le Mans racer David Kennedy asserts that Fernando Alonso’s predominant flaw was evident during the Monaco GP. In an exclusive interview with PlanetF1, he said, “I think he had a car that could have put it on pole in Monaco. It was just that last several hundredths of a second.” He believes Alonso’s growing age is what is hindering the team from securing victories.

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“It is just nature’s way and you can’t beat it. There are drivers and whether they take it on one, two, or even three years – it just slips away. We’ve seen it time and time again over the years. It’s a hard fact but that’s nature’s course,” he continued. When questioned about his opinion on whether the Aston Martin car might be faster than Alonso’s performance with it, given the remarkable achievement of securing podium finishes in five out of the seven races, David Kennedy was firm in saying yes.

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Kennedy believes that Alonso, being considerably closer to the end of his career than the beginning, is the ideal driver to partner with Lance Stroll as they work together to solve the remaining challenges and complete the puzzle. There is no better fit for the role of an experienced former world champion in the latter stages of his career, according to him.

A pitstop gamble also stole a potential win from Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin in Monaco

Fernando Alonso at Monaco GP (Credits: Aston Martin)

Trailing Max Verstappen with over two-thirds of the race completed, rain began to bear down on the principality, making pitstop calls for intermediate tires crucial. If Aston Martin had equipped Alonso’s car with intermediate wet-weather tires on Lap 54 instead of the slick medium-compound tires, and if Alonso had executed a flawless out-lap while Max Verstappen pitted on Lap 55, Alonso could have emerged as the frontrunner, leading the race with 23 laps remaining.

Considering the unpredictable nature of changing track conditions, it is difficult to ascertain the exact outcome from Lap 54 onwards. However, taking into account the time lost by Verstappen by staying out on slick tires until the end of Lap 55, and the potential gains Alonso could have made by switching to intermediates on Lap 54, it is reasonable to speculate that the Aston Martin driver could have potentially seized the lead.

?: Former F1 racer David Kennedy points out Fernando Alonso's weakness at Monaco GP. Despite finishing second, Kennedy believes a younger driver could have secured pole and victory for Aston Martin due to Alonso's age. He praised Max Verstappen's exceptional qualifying lap,… pic.twitter.com/DCK9grPZXh
— F1 Naija (@f1_naija) June 11, 2023

Aston Martin recognized their error in tire choice and brought Alonso back into the pits on Lap 55. As a result, he re-entered the race in second place but with a 22-second gap behind Verstappen. Unfortunately, that gap widened as the remaining laps unfolded, which only allowed him to take P2.

Alonso’s quest for a 33rd race win thus continues. With Red Bull set to undergo a reduction in wind tunnel testing time, they will be hampered toward the season’s end. Should Aston Martin maintain consistency in development, staying ahead of their rivals, a potential win could still be on the cards for the Spaniard and his British outfit.