Esteban Ocon not sure if ‘Fernando Alonso effect’ to blame for hubbub around Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso’s made some rather questionable career decisions. While he has always given his all, things at the team haven’t always gone his way. Ferrari and McLaren are probably the most popular examples. At the Italian team, he competed for the title twice, but it’s also acknowledged that particularly in 2012, he outdrove the car. On the other hand, at McLaren, he barely had a midfield package. He then left the sport, but returned with Alpine in 2021, partnering Esteban Ocon.

Perhaps he’s not the Fernando ‘of old’, but he’s performed admirably, particularly in 2022. But that’s been the case even at the other stints that ended in disappointment. Now, he’s joined Aston Martin. In terms of the team’s performance last season, it’s a downgrade from Alpine. But at the same time, the British team are ambitious. There is a lot of ‘gossip’ that they could take a big step forward in 2023.

For his own part, Alonso’s former teammate, Ocon isn’t sure what to think of all the talk surrounding the new Aston Martin challenger. The AMR23, as its dubbed, is quite different from its predecessor. The team said that over 90% parts are different. Speaking to media including PlanetF1, the Frenchman said of the AMR23: “Everybody’s been talking about it. I don’t know if it’s the Fernando effect, or that it’s going to be fast.”

Read More: Aston Martin boss takes a swipe at Alpine’s ‘100-race plan’

Esteban Ocon: Fernando Alonso’s 2023 car ‘looking like a strong contender’

The top three teams were in a league of their own in 2023. In fact, Mercedes (P3) finished 342 points ahead of Alpine (P4). So the French team are unlikely to consistently challenge the ‘big’ teams. Instead, the main goal will be fourth, but to be much closer than in 2022. It’s also going to be about holding off the challenge from other midfield teams – including Aston Martin, who now have Fernando Alonso. Even at 41, the Spaniard is no slouch.

Esteban Ocon elaborated on the AMR23: “But it looks like a very quick car from whenever you look at the aero side of things and from the outside, so it’s looking like a strong contender.” adding that Alpine can’t underestimate any team: “But everyone’s going to work hard to close that gap as well. We’re not the only ones. We can’t underestimate the Aston Martin, McLaren, AlphaTauri, Sauber, all these guys because they’re also thinking the same things that we are doing now.”

Ocon and Alonso seemed to suffer a breakdown in their relationship towards the end of 2022. Their crash during the Sao Paulo GP sprint comes to mind, as does the many things spoken in the media afterwards. Aston Martin and Alpine may come up against each other in 2023. In such a situation, both drivers would be up against each other, and there is potential for fireworks.

In case you missed it:

• Esteban Ocon thinks Alpine’s 2023 car makes it predecessor look ‘like a toy’
• Oscar Piastri considers working with Fernando Alonso an ‘eye-opening experience’

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