Alonso: “With the 2023 experiments we have better recognized the direction for 24”

Fernando Alonso has commented on some of the weaker aspects of this year’s Aston Martin AMR23, but the most important thing he said is that the Silverstone team’s experiments with the car’s development this year provided some crucial data for its design and development of his AMR24. new season.

Aston has lost the good performance it had in the first GPs of 2023 since the summer because it had to remove a stretched front wing and because it then tested in the AMR23 some of the components it had developed for 2024. These two parameters played an important role in catapulting the team from the podium.

Speaking about the AMR23’s weaknesses that Aston needs to address in the 2024 car – at a time when ground effect cars are very sensitive to setup changes and changing conditions – the Spaniard said: “I think we need to find some stability. Perhaps one of our weak points was that the car had to work within a very tight framework [ρυθμίσεων].

It’s the same for everyone, but we seem to be struggling a little and it would be good if we could have a consistent performance over time. And if we can improve our straight-line speed – I think that was our weak point based on the numbers.

We were always a bit slow on the straights. If we wanted to match the speed of the others, we had to lower the rear wing significantly. And that meant that we also became slow in the corners. Therefore, we were unable to get out of this vicious circle during the year.”

The 42-year-old explained that this “tight window” of settings was a result of testing the 2024 components and that these experiments helped the team find a clearer direction for the new year: “I believe that [το μικρό παράθυρο ρυθμίσεων] it was a result of part of the development of the automobile.

But as I said, it’s the same for everyone when you’re trying to get more performance out of the car – you have to sacrifice some aspects to gain in others. So you start to narrow from the window. But I think we have some ideas for next year and everything will be better.”

On the elements of the ’23 car that he would like to continue in AMR24, he added: “Our strength was tire wear management. The car is always very loud on Sundays. [Το ίδιο και] the implementation of the strategy, the motivation of the team. We are a happy team, a young team. We celebrate every result as a victory and it is important to maintain this energy for next year.”

I think there are clear indications of which parts of the car didn’t work in certain races. There are also different ones [σχεδιαστικές] Philosophies between teams, including our own, about how to try to get the performance out of these cars.

I think now, with all the experiments and learnings from this year, we believe we can better understand the direction of the car’s development – ​​although everything is in constant motion.”

“There is no patent recipe for the development of the car. If yes, then it would be very easy for everyone. But some things you might trust now, six months from now — because perhaps teams’ airflow tendency is changing — may be outdated. So we have to look at that.he added.

“The demanding program is what drains my battery.”

Meanwhile, Alonso was once again asked to discuss his future retirement from Formula 1. The Spaniard, who turns 43 in July, said it is not his speed that will determine when he retires. He feels “extremely” confident, but the strain of the back-to-back races on the program, which will include 24 GPs in 2024 – the most ever.

“Being competitive, feeling the speed and going into every race knowing that you have to do everything perfectly because there is a possibility of a podium or a win, that gives you a completely different approach and a different love for what you do one does and for oneself devotion”said the Spaniard.

“I have said many times and before 2018 that the day I stop driving will not come if I feel like I don’t have the motivation to drive or speed. If one day I feel like I’m slow, it will be easy to spot and I won’t be happy with my performance, so I’ll be the first to raise my hand and say, “It’s time.” [να σταματήσω]’.

But I don’t think that moment will come. To be honest, I am extremely confident in my performance. However, due to the demanding schedule, this may be the case [των αγώνων] one day to feel that the time has come – because there are other things in life. This year was very demanding with 22 races and the cancellation of two other races.

Next year, with the regular 24-game schedule, we’ll have to wait and see what happens next. I saw that there is a trio of races (sp: end of 2024, with the Family doctor from Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi). I had the impression that Las Vegas was on its own. But it’s three games together. These things will drain my battery, not driving.”concluded Alonso.

Laurens Stroll: Categorical rejection of him leaving

The Silverstone team, which remains with Aston Martin, has been dogged in recent months by reports that its owner, Canadian billionaire Laurence Stroll, is considering a sale – after confirming his decision to sell a minority stake to investment firm Arctos Partners .

Stroll bought the – bankrupt – Silverstone team in 2018 and renamed it from Force India to Racing Point and in 2021 to Aston Martin F1, after also buying the popular British car manufacturer. Since then, huge investments have been made in the factory, with new buildings, a new wind tunnel and state-of-the-art simulator technology, as well as a major increase in human resources.

A stake in Aston Martin F1 belongs to Mercedes F1 co-owner and director Toto Wolff, and although recent reports suggest the Austrian is considering selling his stake from the outset, Lawrence Stroll has done so at a time when the value has fallen of F1 teams has skyrocketed stated categorically that he has no intention of doing the same.

“They will not spend hundreds of millions of pounds building their biggest new factory formula 1 and hire 400 of the best workers if you want to quit,” the Canadian businessman told the New York Times.

“It couldn’t be further from the truth that I may not be interested in owning a majority stake in this team for much longer, and the same goes for the commercial vehicle manufacturer. I do not go anywhere. I plan to run these companies for many years. I am at the beginning of the journey with both.concluded Laurence Stroll.

Recall that under Stroll, Aston Martin F1 has put in place a five-year plan to win the Formula 1 titles and in 2026 will receive full factory engine support from reigning champions Honda, running through Silverstone and Milton Keynes and Red Bull Racing Aston.