Aston Martin aiming high with 2023 Formula 1 car as Fernando Alonso hails ‘particular’ new team

Fernando Alonso, who joins Aston Martin to accomplice Lance Stroll this season, says team is “different” to former groups Alpine and McLaren with their ambition; Alonso aiming to steer the midfield in 2023 earlier than combating for wins and podiums subsequent yr

Aston Martin have revealed the car they consider will vault them up the standings in 2023, with bullish new signing Fernando Alonso adamant his newest Formula 1 team is “special” and destined for future titles.

Bringing an finish to a mega Monday after McLaren’s launch, Aston Martin used their all-new Silverstone base to unveil the AMR23, donned within the traditional racing inexperienced that the posh British producer is legendary for.

The car can be adventurous in its design following a string of behind-the-scenes signings from rivals and the team, previously recognized as Racing Point and earlier than that Force India, are assured in a giant enchancment this yr after back-to-back seasons in seventh following their re-brand.

Nobody typified their conviction on the launch greater than Alonso, the fiery double world champion who surprisingly left Alpine to hitch Aston Martin and change the retiring Sebastian Vettel.

“There is something going on in this team that makes things special,” insisted the Spaniard, 41, earlier than firing a dig at his former groups.

“This is very different compared to any other team I joined [recently] where maybe they had success in the past and they were just in a comfortable position,” Alonso, who earlier than Alpine grew annoyed at McLaren, added.

“They were fourth and they were happy with fourth. They were fifth and they were happy with fifth. They were seventh and there was a celebration.

“There there isn’t a celebration right here till we win… and that is very interesting.”

Aston Martin have long stressed their hopes to reach the front of the grid but – while buoyed by a new factory, new aerodynamic gurus and a new superstar driver – admit their project is more long-term than short-term.

Alonso though said he wants the team to “depart the midfield” in 2023 before fighting for wins and podiums next year.

He partners Lance Stroll, the son of of owner Lawrence, with Mike Krack the team principal.

“When I get enthusiastic about one thing, I get very passionate,” said Lawrence Stroll. “When I get keen about one thing, I win.”

What Alonso sees in ‘special’ Aston Martin

Alonso provided the shock of the driver market last year when he rejected an Alpine contract in the summer in favour of joining Aston Martin, the rebuilding, and consistently slower, team. Given Alonso’s age – he is comfortably F1’s elder statesman – the move flummoxed many.

On Monday, however, Alonso remained buoyant about his decision, and the chances of Aston Martin.

That is due to the heavy investment of Aston Martin and Lawrence Stroll, the improving facilities and influx of talent, headlined by new technical director Dan Fallows arriving from Red Bull.

The AMR23, like many this launch season, seems to be taking inspiration from last year’s title-dominating Red Bull.

It has been called “daring and aggressive” and a “important evolution” of their earlier AMR22.

“Every day I’m happier,” said Alonso, who won his world titles with Renault almost 20 years ago. “I’m very demanding on every little thing that I do. I give my 100 per cent and I anticipate the identical from the individuals I work with.

“From the first day at Aston Martin, I felt exactly the same values from the people around me. It’s very motivating.

“In Formula 1, you want funding and also you want expertise. We have the funding, now we have the services and now we have the expertise. Unfortunately I’m not 20 years outdated any extra, however I’ll do my greatest to assist the team.”

It’s rare to see Alonso this optimistic going into a season. If he is proven right, the man who is renowned for making unfortunate career decisions may wish he had made this switch earlier on in his glittering career.

How high can Aston Martin go?

Aston Martin were born from teams that consistently punched above their weight but now have the finances and facilities to compete with any of F1’s leading lights, albeit while acknowledging that their project may not have lift-off until the arrival of a windtunnel for 2025.

The long term goal is, evidently, championships, but for now Aston Martin are focused on getting to the front of the midfield. Even that is a lofty goal given they finished over 100 points behind Alpine in fourth last year.

“I can’t say to anybody we shall be combating for victories this yr,” continued Alonso. “I’ll lie if I say that.

“But at the same time we want to have a good car to start with and maybe in the second part of the year we can get closer. If an opportunity comes we will not miss that opportunity.

“We have to know there aren’t any miracles in F1, from one yr to the subsequent, only some months since Abu Dhabi and there’s a large hole to get better to the highest groups.

“But we definitely we have to leave the midfield and get closer to the top three teams. The most important thing this year is to make sure this is the baseline to develop future Aston Martin cars.”

The car may have a Silverstone shakedown earlier than hitting the observe at pre-season testing on February 23-25, dwell on Sky Sports F1. The season then begins with the Bahrain GP on March 5.