Fernando Alonso said Aston Martin “cannot hide” from the fact it was in a midfield fight on merit at the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix with work to do to return to podium contention.
A well-executed one-stop strategy helped Alonso finish eighth in last Sunday’s Belgian GP, scoring four more points to bring the Aston Martin squad’s tally to 73 and fifth in the Constructors’ standings.
Still, that is a long 193 points adrift of fourth-placed Mercedes and a far cry from where Aston Martin vaulted itself to at the start of last season.
In 2023, Alonso scored six podiums in the first eight races, at Spa this campaign, he finished three seconds ahead of ninth-placed Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez, the last of the top runners was able to take a free pit stop ahead of him to chase fastest lap.
Alonso admitted he was “A little bit disappointed” after Sunday’s race in Belgium, dissatisfied with Aston Martin being in the midfield fight.
“We cannot hide the fact that we are fighting today with Williams, RB and Alpine, and last year, we were looking to the top four teams – now they are out of reach, and we are just defending from the guys behind,” Alonso explained (via Racing News 365).
“We cannot hide the fact that we are fighting today with Williams, RB and Alpine, and last year we were looking to the top four teams.
“Now they are out of reach, and we are just defending from the guys behind.
“Even at the beginning of the year. In qualifying especially, we were always top five, top six, in the mix.
“So definitely a lot of work to do for us in [the] summer break and the second part of the year. We will not give up, but we need to work.”
From a team just missing a step to challenge for Grand Prix wins to slipping back to the midfield is likely a bitter pill to swallow for Alonso and company, but Aston Martin has strong foundations to build on for the future.
Its state-of-the-art factory is coming fully online and its new wind tunnel too in the near future, under the observation of incoming Chief Technical Office Enrico Cardile in 2025.
Moreover, a Honda works engine deal in 2026 should help bolster Aston Martin further and Alonso has signed on to be a part of this promising future.
Still, Aston Martin would do well to improve post summer shutdown in this campaign to ensure the veteran Spaniard remains motivated.
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