Fernando Alonso says there are "very obvious" differences between the Aston Martin and Red Bull Formula 1 cars amid claims the former is a copy of the latter. Aston showed a huge leap forward in 2023 pre-season testing and in the first race in Bahrain, allowing Alonso to claim third place behind both Red Bull drivers. Post-race, Sergio Pere claimed there were "three" Red Bulls on the podium owing to perceived ideas that the AMR23 is a copy of the RB19 machine. The two cars are actually distinct in their design - although the Aston does have some similarities to the Red Bull. However, Alonso is not paying much attention to the claims and says they are "not true."
Alonso on Aston copying claims
"Obviously, we are focused on ourselves, and as you said, there are very obvious things on the car that are very different," he explained to media, including RacingNews365 , in Jeddah when asked about his feelings towards the copying claims. "I think it has been a tremendous effort from everyone in the team to build this car, very unique ideas on the car so I don't pay much attention [to the claims]. "As you said, they were not even true, because the car is very different."
Aston's step forward
Aston's break-out from the midfield to be in the mix with the leading three teams has been a topic of hot discussion owing to sheer performance gain made. Indeed, in 2022, only one driver outside the big three teams claimed a podium all season via Lando Norris for McLaren at Imola. Aston look to be regular podium contenders, with Alonso also not ruling out challenging for wins after the podium in Bahrain. When asked if he had seen such a big performance gain from one team from one year to the next, Alonso pointed to his former team, Ferrari. "I mean Ferrari in 2020 and 2021 were very bad and then the following year - last year - they were fighting for the championship and they won two of the first three Grands Prix of the year," the two-time World Champion explained. "So Ferrari made a huge step, there was Brawn GP obviously [in 2009]. "With a non-regulation change, this is probably the biggest one because all the others were with a regulation change. "But this one is with the same regulations, plus the cost cap so it is very difficult to do something like that, but we have very talented people in the team. "So far it has been a good start and hopefully only the start."
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