Alonso finds silver lining in Aston Martin gloom

Fernando Alonso has detailed a positive development for Aston Martin off the back of a disappointing campaign for the team.

Aston Martin entered the year looking to mimic its strong start to the 2023 campaign, when it scored six podiums in the opening eight rounds.

Its form tapered off as the 2023 season wore on, however it ended the year fifth in the standings - up two positions from the previous campaign.

Aston Martin failed to carry through its form into this past season as although it remained fifth in the standings, it scored 186 fewer points compared to the previous season.

Alonso denied it set its goals too high after its strong uptick in performance from the previous campaign.

“No, I don’t think that the expectations were too high,” Alonso told media including RacingNews365.

“We did a very strong campaign in 2023, and people were expecting us to fight for bigger things, or at least to be at the level that we were at the beginning of this year. And this is normal.

“This is Formula 1, and we want to be there as well. You know, we didn’t succeed, you know, the second part of the year.

“We are aware of that. But we are not ashamed of that.”

Alonso moved to point out the positives from its campaign as it continue to upgrade its new factory at Silverstone.

Its biggest story, however, came in September when it announced the signing of renowned car designer Adrian Newey.

“We are working towards fighting for the championship in the future and the second part of the year we didn’t maybe bring to the circuit what we thought that it was in the pipeline,” Alonso said.

“But at the same time, we have finished some of the facilities in Silverstone, with building two and three of the factory, the wind tunnel will be soon operating.

“And we have Adrian Newey on board, so it was not a bad, 2024.”