Fernando Alonso Admits Aston Martin’s F1 Struggles: “Not Fighting For Anything

In a candid revelation, Fernando Alonso acknowledged that Aston Martin is not vying for positions in the final races of the 2023 Formula 1 season. This announcement deals a significant blow to fans and the team alike, as they face the remaining three races with diminished expectations.

Key Takeaways:

• Aston Martin, once hopeful for a strong finish in the world championship, has seen a downturn in performance due to misguided upgrades on the AMR23, leading to a series of setbacks for Fernando Alonso and his teammate Lance Stroll.
• The challenges faced by the team were highlighted at the Mexican Grand Prix, where both Alonso and Stroll struggled significantly, culminating in their retirement from the race.
• Despite the current challenges, Alonso remains committed to learning from these experiences, expressing optimism for the team’s future and the importance of feedback and testing in improving their performance.

In the recent Mexican Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso’s challenges were evident as he began the race in 13th position. His race was further complicated by suspected floor damage caused by debris from Sergio Perez’s first-corner incident. This led to the difficult decision to retire his car. Likewise, Lance Stroll, who started from the pit lane, also faced his own set of difficulties, ending in retirement after a collision later in the race.

Reflecting on the team’s situation ahead of the Brazil race, Alonso provided a frank assessment to Motorsport.com. He said, “Honestly, we are not fighting for anything. We will learn, even if we have to start from the pitlane, and you know that is more useful than just spending the weekend. In the constructors’ championship, we are locked in in the position we are. In the driver’s championship, we will lose a couple of places. But I mean, it is incredible that we are in front of Ferraris, or George or Lando or whatever, but we will lose those positions. They have a very fast car. And yet, let’s see what we can do.”

Alonso’s comments underscore a tough reality for Aston Martin, yet he also highlighted the team’s dedication to improvement and learning from adversity. “We are working as much as we can. It’s not that we are just happy with the situation. It’s not the position we wish we were, but at the same time, we are working very hard to reverse the situation. And sometimes you learn more from the difficulties than from the celebrations. So right now we have a difficult time. And we are trying to do as many tests as possible, giving as much feedback as possible to the factory in Silverstone. And hopefully, as I said, finish on a high, and not on a low.”

Alonso’s outlook, while pragmatic, offers a glimmer of hope for the team’s future, emphasizing the value of resilience and continuous improvement in the face of challenges. As Aston Martin prepares for the upcoming races, they do so with an eye towards learning and growth, even in a season marked by unexpected difficulties.