It has not been the simplest of seasons for Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin. Whereas the group was the darlings of the paddock early final season, the state of affairs has modified since then. In the meanwhile they discover themselves mired in fifth place within the Components 1 Constructors’ standings, effectively forward of sixth-place Visa Money App RB F1 Workforce, however effectively off the tempo set by fourth-place Mercedes.
And based on Alonso, their state of affairs may not enhance this weekend in Budapest.
Talking Thursday on the FIA Press Convention forward of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Alonso opened up in regards to the group’s struggles. Particularly, the motive force famous simply how troublesome it’s for the group to get the AMR24 into the best working window.
“Effectively, I believe it’s fairly troublesome to have the automobile in the fitting window in the meanwhile for us. We’re struggling to maximise the potential of the automobile. I believe in Barcelona, we began the weekend on the improper foot, and we couldn’t get better from that dangerous FP1, let’s say,” mentioned Alonso on Thursday. “In Austria, with the Dash weekend, you solely have one free observe. And yeah, once more, we didn’t optimize the bundle. And in Silverstone, yeah, we had just a little bit extra regular weekend. It was just a little bit cooler as effectively, which most likely did assist our efficiency. And yeah, let’s see right here. It’s one other scorching observe, possibly much like Barcelona by way of nook speeds and issues. So it’s a problem for us.”
Alonso then elaborated on the insecurity he has had within the automobile this season, in addition to how among the inconsistency with the AMR24 has led to “dangerous” choices by him and the group.
“A couple of issues, not just one. As I mentioned earlier than, I believe the automobile isn’t straightforward to drive and it’s just a little bit unpredictable at occasions,” started Alonso. “So this clearly removes confidence to the motive force, when you find yourself not in a position to push and to belief the automobile that may do the identical in each nook, in each lap. So this, let’s say, inconsistency is one thing that isn’t nice when you find yourself behind the wheel, and I’m struggling extra this yr than beforehand. Yeah, after which clearly when margins are so tight and you’re in a detailed battle for one or two factors, generally you are taking extra dangerous choices.
“Generally you gamble on a technique. Generally you danger greater than what you need to within the begin or on a set-up selection that we went for. As a substitute of adjusting one thing minimal earlier than qualifying, we modify the entire automobile earlier than qualifying as a result of we all know that with a present automobile in FP3, we will be unable to attain a couple of or two factors, so that you danger it extra.
“So there are at all times penalties with issues that you just do when you find yourself used to battle for increased positions and you end up simply aiming for one or two factors, generally you danger all of it to have a prime 5 or being out of the factors isn’t an enormous loss. These form of issues we be taught lots throughout this season and possibly has been our, or my, private largest issue.”
So far as what Alonso expects this weekend, in addition to subsequent weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, he’s not setting his sights too excessive.
“Tough to say. I believe it relies upon just a little bit observe to trace and it’s very shut within the midfield. I might love to complete each races within the factors and that shall be a very good signal that the brand new bundle is delivering what we anticipate,” described Alonso. “I believe the highest 4 groups are just a little bit too far-off from our attain in the meanwhile. So yeah, I believe we have to do smaller steps on the time and being within the factors on each races that shall be most likely the goal.”
Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll will get their first crack on the circuit in Budapest later at present with a pair of observe classes forward of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
