Fernando Alonso has stated that he and the Aston Martin Formula 1 team are “not fighting for anything” in the few remaining races of the 2023 season. Instead, their goal is to concentrate on getting stronger for the next campaign.
Photo credit: Aston Martin Aramaco Cognizant F1 Team
As recently as the Italian Grand Prix last month, Alonso was third in the Drivers’ championship. Following a number of tough weekends that has seen the Spaniard fail to finish in the top 5 since his podium at Zandvoort, he is currently fifth. George Russell, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc all catching up to him rapidly, too.
After being overtaken by McLaren at COTA, Aston Martin dropped to fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship. However, they have a big gap to Alpine behind.
Alonso’s weekend in Mexico was less than ideal once again. He spun during practice and qualifying as the two-time World Champion uncharacteristically struggled to get to grips with his car.
Starting 13th, he ultimately fell to the back of the pack when he reportedly sustained floor damage from debris left by Sergio Perez’s first corner crash. The car was eventually retired by the team.
After a spec change, his teammate Lance Stroll had to start from the pit lane, and Alonso allowed him past during the race. Stroll then collided with Valtteri Bottas and had to retire as well.
Alonso is fully aware that he will not be back on the rostrum any time soon and is completely aware that he will continue to slip farther back in the Drivers’ Championship.
“Honestly, we are not fighting for anything, we will learn, even if we have to start from the pit lane, 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 insists that the team is making a concerted effort to get back on track.
“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.”
When asked if the situation will get better this season considering how bad the recent events have been, he replied:
“I think so, we still need to go to three different places, three different circuits, which will give us more data again on the car.
“It depends on what we call finish on a high. If we think that we will fight for podiums or something like that? I don’t think so. But to finish in a competitive way, I think we still have the possibility.”
