Alonso offers Aston Martin boost as F1 testing concludes

Fernando Alonso has stated that Aston Martin's 2024 Formula 1 car is “a step forward” compared to its predecessor.

The Silverstone-based squad launched a competitive challenger last year that took it to six podiums in the opening eight races.

Aston Martin's pace dwindled as the season wore on, however Alonso managed to score another duo of top-three finishes in the second half of the campaign.

It marked a large step forward for the team compared to the previous year as it concluded the 2022 season seventh in the Constructors' Championship.

Having progressed to fifth in the standings last year, Alonso has provided a positive reaction to the AMR24 as Aston Martin aims to better its own result.

“The car is a step forward, the car feels better,” he said.

“[There is] more performance, so we’re happy with the data and happy with the feeling.

“I think everyone made a step forward this year, we see the concepts of the car and the ideas are more of the same for everybody. So I think it’s going to be tight and very intense.”

Alonso reflects on 'intense' test

Alonso rounded out Aston Martin's testing programme on Friday evening, setting 75 laps in the afternoon.

The two-time World Champion stated that it was an “intense” few days in Bahrain with testing compacted into just three days of running for teams.

“It’s always an incredible feeling when you’re behind these cars and you test for the very first time, your team and car for the next 11 months of the year,” he said.

“It’s very intense at the moment because everything is compressed into one and a half days for us [drivers].

“At the same time, you try to figure out where you are in terms of order. There’s a lot of things going on.”