Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin driver confident of maintaining speed after ‘finest’ F1 season yet in 2023

Fernando Alonso says he doesn’t anticipate his efficiency to drop off any time quickly after finishing his “best season” in Formula 1 on the age of 42.

In his first season with Aston Martin after becoming a member of from Alpine, Alonso completed fourth in the drivers’ standings to assert his highest end since 2013.

Aston Martin obtained off to an electrical begin with podium finishes in six out of the primary 10 races, unexpectedly competing with Ferrari and Mercedes, in addition to being Red Bull’s closest rivals in the early levels of the season.

While his contract with the group at present solely has one season to run, Alonso seems confident of persevering with for a number of years yet.

“I’ve said many times, even before 2018, the day I stop racing is not because I feel not motivated for driving or I feel slow,” the two-time world champion stated on the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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Ride on board with Fernando Alonso as he takes on Sergio Perez in an epic battle to seal a podium place in Brazil

“If I feel slow one day, I think it will be noticeable and I will not be happy with my performance and I will be the first to raise my hand and say it’s time.

“But I do not assume that point will arrive actually in phrases of feeling gradual, I’ve excessive self-confidence in my efficiency.”

While falling short of an elusive 33rd career race win, Alonso clinched all eight of Aston Martin’s podium finishes, including second-place finishes in Monaco, Canada and the Netherlands.

“I’m proud of the private efficiency, I believe along with 2012, it is one of the best season for me,” Alonso stated.

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Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz sits down with Fernando Alonso to reflect on his career, 20 years on from his first win in Hungary

“Personally, I charge one of the best season in my driving. I used to be proud of every little thing, I used to be motivated, I used to be match, I used to be performing as you stated in tough circumstances generally, Bahrain, Monaco, Canada, Monza and Brazil might be my prime 4/5 of the 12 months.

“I put Monza on purpose because it was a ninth place, it was not a podium, it was nothing that people will remember. But probably we had the slowest car in Monza or the second slowest and to be in the points it was one of those weekends everything was very good.”

‘Demanding schedule’ might cease Alonso driving

Cancelled races this 12 months in China and Italy noticed F1’s file 24-race schedule diminished to 22, however with a full season set for 2024, Alonso feels the game’s calendar is the one factor that would put on him down.

“But it could be with the calendar and the demanding schedule and things like this one day, I will feel it this time because you know there are other things in life,” Alonso stated.

“It’s been a very demanding season only with 22 races, with two cancellations. Next year with 24, the proper calendar, we will have to see how it feels. Even Las Vegas, I saw today it’s a triple header, I don’t know why, I thought Vegas was alone next year and then Qatar and Abu Dhabi together.

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Fernando Alonso just pips Sergio Perez to a podium spot after an epic battle in the final stages of the race

“I simply came upon now, like 10 minutes in the past, that it was three races collectively, these varieties of issues will drain my battery, not my driving.”

While Aston Martin surpassed expectations at the start, they struggled in the middle stage of the season, with more disappointing performances in the British and Hungarian Grands Prix, but Alonso accepts the process is part of a learning curve for the team.

“I see solely positives as properly; these struggles are half of the job and half of the journey of this group,” he said. “I believe we began actually sturdy with a automotive that was surprisingly aggressive even to us the step from final 12 months to this 12 months.

“Then we found ourselves maybe in a position that we were not ready for it, fighting with Mercedes, Ferrari, top teams. They are used to fighting at the level.

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Fernando Alonso overtakes Lewis Hamilton to move into third place at the restart of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

“I believe we have to discover some consistency, perhaps some of the weak factors is the automotive has to function in a really slender window, it is the identical with all people but it surely appears we’re struggling a bit bit.

“It would be nice if we can perform always at a stable level and next year see if we can improve the straight line speed.

“I believe that was the [under] efficiency in numbers, our weak level at all times (was we have been) a bit bit too gradual on the straights and if we wish to be as quick because the others, we have to drop an excessive amount of the rear wing and we ended up gradual on the corners as properly, in order that was in all probability the loop we couldn’t exit this season.”

‘Stroll commitment was a surprise to me’

Alonso says the level of commitment shown by his Aston Martin team-mate Lance Stroll, particularly after a poor run of form for the Canadian, came as a pleasant surprise.

Stroll, who is the son of team owner Lawrence, raced in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix just 12 days after suffering fractures to his hands, wrists and foot in a cycling accident.

Alonso was heard on team radio throughout the season attempting to aid his team-mate in any way possible, and once more spoke of a strong bond between the pair.

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Fernando Alonso reacts to Lance Stroll’s Alex Albon overtake

“We discuss so much, we’re in contact each week on the phone, in the manufacturing facility, in the races and we strive to ensure we’re all in the identical course and we share many issues,” Alonso said.