Madrid, February 12 (EFE).- Spanish Fernando Alonso, double Formula One world champion, explained to EFE, with a view to the next season – which starts the first weekend of March, in Bahrain – and in the framework of the presentation of the AMR24, the team’s new car, which “hopefully has the privilege of achieving the first victory in the history of Aston Martin.”
“I wish the first victory would come for this team, for Aston Martin, in green. And that I could be behind the wheel. It would be a privilege to have my name in the history of this brand,” answered the Asturian double world champion (2005 and 2006). – who last year, at the age of 42, became the sensation of the season, reaching the podium eight times in his first campaign with the Silverstone (England) team – in a video conference with a small group of media, as he was questioned by EFE during it.
Alonso, who explained that physically he feels “better than ever” and that he has not yet decided if he wants to continue, or for how long he would do so, in F1, but that if that were the case, he would sit down “first with Aston Martin.” “To talk about his future – he has a contract in force this year – he achieved four third places in the first five races of last season. Then, he achieved three brilliant second places – in Monaco, Canada and the Netherlands – before climbing back into the box – with the best overtaking of the year, according to the FIA (International Automobile Federation) to the Mexican Sergio Pérez – in Sao Paulo (Brazil). Where he finished third in the penultimate race of the championship, before securing fourth place in the World Championship, in another outstanding season.
With 32 victories in F1, Fernando could not achieve the desired ’33’ last year; but he raised his number of podium finishes in the premier class to 106; in which he also has 22 pole positions and 24 fastest laps.
When asked by Efe about what his realistic objectives are for the next campaign, since if he repeats the qualitative leap made by Aston Martin between 2022 and 2023 he would, without a doubt, be fighting for the world title – something that seems difficult – Alonso responded, smiling, that in that case, if that were the case, “I wouldn’t be here.”
“I would be in a bar, having a beer with the team,” he noted, in a humorous way.
“It’s different to sign something or say a clear objective. I would like to be in the points always, regularly. Fight for the podiums on a recurring basis. I hope last year’s eight are repeated; or that they are at least those. I hope a victory comes , the first for this team, for Aston Martin; the first in green. And that I could be behind the wheel. It would be a privilege to have my name in the history of this brand. But it is difficult to know today. Until we do We won’t know from the first tests,” he said.
“It may be like that or it may be the opposite; and you are in the points from time to time and there is no podium all year. And suddenly you are left with a bad taste in your mouth, because it is going to be the grid is super competitive,” explained the ‘flagship’ of the Silverstone team, whose AMR24 will ride for the first time between the 21st and 23rd of this month, also in Bahrain.
“We must not forget that we have two Red Bulls, two Ferraris, two Mercedes and two McLarens. Who, to be honest, finished the year a step or two ahead of us. And there are eight cars. So, you can stand ninth in a moment; and leaving with a slightly strange face. Even the Alpha Tauri finished very strong last year,” the brilliant Asturian driver told EFE.
“You have to have respect for everyone. You have to have respect for the competition. And, at the same time, be ambitious and work tirelessly here (at the factory) to be strong,” added Alonso, who specified that “in five tenths you can going from fighting for podiums to being outside the ‘top-10′”, that it seems “unfair to have only a day and a half to prepare for the longest season in history” and that it “surprised” him, but that it did not help him ” too much attention”, to the signing of Englishman Lewis Hamilton for Ferrari, the team for which the seven-time world champion will drive from 2025.
“I am optimistic. Otherwise, I would not have slept in the last two months. We understood a lot of things that were missing last year that we will try to improve this year. We will see the result. My only concern is that everything is going to be very tight. In Abu Dhabi (in the last race of last season), the difference between pole and 18th place was six tenths. If you improve or worsen a couple of tenths you go from fighting for the podium to being left out of Q2 ( the second round of qualifying),” he explained to the Asturian star, who indicated that, with a historical record of 24 races, it is going to be a “very demanding season on and off the track, to improve things.”
Alonso, who stated that he believes that with the new car they should improve top speed on the straights and also advance in fast corners; and that that is what he “would like to see in the Bahrain tests”, he explained that he “was training” the day it was announced that from 2025 Hamilton will be a Ferrari driver.
“I missed, therefore, everyone’s stress. It’s probably a surprise, I’m not going to lie. From the outside, he seemed very united and very loyal to Mercedes. I don’t know the reason, you have to ask him. He didn’t care. I paid too much attention to this matter,” said the man from Oviedo, a driver for five years (2010-2014) for the ‘Scuderia’ and who, for that reason, was asked if he would give any advice to the eccentric English champion.
“I don’t know. I don’t think this would have been his dream since he was a child a year ago. I hope he likes the experience. It’s a special team. But it’s more special if you win. Maybe he gives them that ‘extra’ to fight for the World Cup; because the car is there, the car is good. And fast,” said the man from Oviedo, who denied contacts with Mercedes, a team in which, when Hamilton leaves, there is a free wheel for 2025.
“There have been no contacts. I know that the market movement started earlier, this year. But this is not going to affect me. We have some limited tests soon in Bahrain. It is unfair to only have a day and a half to prepare for a World Cup, because there are three days; and we are two drivers. I don’t understand why we don’t go to Bahrain for at least four days; and I don’t understand why we don’t go with two cars. I don’t have time to think much about the future now,” he commented.
“My situation is quite unique, right now. There are three world champions on the grid. And I am the only one who is available with a view to 2025. But when I decide whether or not I want to continue in 2025, I will speak to Aston Martin first,” he said. Alonso, who does not know until what age he could prolong his career in F1 if he decided to do so.
“Years ago I would say that the limit would be 41 or 42 years. Now, maybe a couple of years more. But, given the results of all the physical tests I have done in winter, maybe it is 48 or 49. Or maybe 50 But in these cases you have to sacrifice everything in life,” he explained.
“This will be my twenty-fourth season since I started in F1. I think I could continue for a couple more years for sure. But there are more things in life that I am curious about,” he stated, during the video conference in which EFE participated, Alonso, who said he felt “better than ever.”
“I feel good, fitter than ever. All the physical tests we have done are the best ever. I trained differently, I added a nutritionist to my team, because I want to prepare myself to continue; and to continue riding better than ever. “I won’t drive just for fun. I’m not that type of driver or person. I want to be two hundred percent for the team, on and off the track. That’s what I want to do,” Alonso added.
“My priority will always be Aston Martin. With the new (Silverstone) factory there is a great future in this team. And I would like to be here for many years. They will continue to ask me about my contract many times; but for now I have to go through many phases and first see what I want to do in the future. I love driving and I love F1, but there are also other categories. And if I don’t continue in F1, I would go to other categories, which would allow me to have more time in my private life.”
“I have to think everything very well before committing to a team. But if I make the decision to continue, I will sit down with Aston Martin first. We took an important step last year and I believe in this project; because I am part of it,” he declared. the Asturian double world champion.
“But if we do not reach an agreement, I am aware that I am an attractive driver. There are only three world champions; and only one of them is available,” said Alonso, who, at the same time, cannot guarantee that this one will not be his last year in F1.
“That idea is 50 to 50. Every year the season could be the last. And I don’t have a contract for next year,” he said. “I look good now, but I want this season to be different, so that my friends and family can come to more races. I look good now, but then come the back-to-back races in Australia, Japan and China, which will be killers.”
“We are going to have to travel more efficiently; and spend the right time in the right places; and perhaps less time in long-distance races. On trips to Japan, Australia and China we will have to combat jet lag ‘ otherwise, because the battery wears out. Another thing I want to control this year is the eating routine,” said the Asturian double world champion with a view to next season.
Adrian R. Huber
By: EFE
2024-02-12 08:27:08
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