It has not been the simplest of seasons for Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin. Whereas the crew was the darlings of the paddock early final season, the scenario has modified since then. In the mean time they discover themselves mired in fifth place within the Formulation 1 Constructors’ standings, nicely forward of sixth-place Visa Money App RB F1 Crew, however nicely off the tempo set by fourth-place Mercedes.
And in response to Alonso, their scenario 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 crew’s struggles. Particularly, the motive force famous simply how troublesome it’s for the crew to get the AMR24 into the best working window.
“Effectively, I feel it’s fairly troublesome to have the automotive in the suitable window for the time being for us. We’re struggling to maximise the potential of the automotive. I feel in Barcelona, we began the weekend on the mistaken foot, and we couldn’t get better from that unhealthy FP1, let’s say,” mentioned Alonso on Thursday. “In Austria, with the Dash weekend, you solely have one free apply. And yeah, once more, we didn’t optimize the package deal. And in Silverstone, yeah, we had somewhat bit extra regular weekend. It was somewhat bit cooler as nicely, which in all probability did assist our efficiency. And yeah, let’s see right here. It’s one other scorching monitor, possibly just 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 automotive this season, in addition to how a number of the inconsistency with the AMR24 has led to “dangerous” choices by him and the crew.
“Just a few issues, not just one. As I mentioned earlier than, I feel the automotive will not be straightforward to drive and it’s somewhat 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 automotive that can 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 might be in a detailed battle for one or two factors, generally you’re taking extra dangerous choices.
“Generally you gamble on a technique. Generally you danger greater than what you must within the begin or on a set-up alternative that we went for. As an alternative of fixing one thing minimal earlier than qualifying, we modify the entire automotive earlier than qualifying as a result of we all know that with a present automotive in FP3, we will be unable to attain a couple of or two factors, so that you danger it extra.
“So there are all the time penalties with issues that you just do when you find yourself used to battle for larger 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 will not be an enormous loss. These form of issues we study quite a bit throughout this season and doubtless 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 feel it relies upon somewhat bit monitor to trace and it’s very shut within the midfield. I’d love to complete each races within the factors and that shall be signal that the brand new package deal is delivering what we anticipate,” described Alonso. “I feel the highest 4 groups are somewhat bit too distant from our attain for the time being. So yeah, I feel we have to do smaller steps on the time and being within the factors on each races that shall be in all probability the goal.”
Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll will get their first crack on the circuit in Budapest later at this time with a pair of apply classes forward of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
