Alonso issues defiant Aston Martin defence despite F1 struggle

Fernando Alonso has asserted Aston Martin remains a “very exciting project” for outside engineers to join despite its slump in on-track results.

Aston Martin began the 2023 F1 campaign in strong form, scoring six podiums in the opening eight races.

However, it has been unable to repeat those results in the first half of the ongoing F1 season, with its rivals ahead pulling a gap in the pecking order.

While the on-track results have dipped, Alonso has declared it has done little to impact the motivation within the team.

“It is exciting, Aston Martin is a very exciting project,” he told media including RacingNews365. “We are aware of our results on the weekends that are not good enough.

“We need to get better, we need to get to a position first to be in the top 10 every race and be in the points, and then fighting for podiums and victories as we did last year.

“We are not in that position yet, so everything is a little bit more difficult to express how motivated and how exciting everyone is in the team.”

Aston Martin attracting new talent

Outgoing Red Bull technical mastermind Adrian Newey has been heavily linked with a switch to Aston Martin after his departure from the Milton Keynes-based squad next year.

Aston Martin also recently announced Andy Cowell as the new Group CEO, showcasing to Alonso that the project and its facilities still make it an attractive option.

“We are still very appealing for talent as we see with Andy and some of the big names linked to the team,” he said.

“New facilities, every time that I come here for the simulator, it is getting bigger and bigger.

“The wind tunnel is coming at the end of the year. So this is, for sure, attractive for many people in the paddock and for many great engineers.

“Hopefully the team is in good shape, we just need to deliver on track on Sunday, which is the most difficult thing.”