Alonso vows not to give up on title fight: Anything can happen

Fernando Alonso has vowed not to "give up" on being in the championship fight with Red Bull following the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen claimed his fourth win of the 2023 F1 season in Monte Carlo, stretching out his lead at the top of the Drivers' standings to 39 points from teammate Sergio Perez, who failed to score points.

Alonso remains in third with a 12-point deficit to Perez and, while he acknowledges that catching Red Bull may be a difficult task, the two-time World Champion has learned from past experience in the sport that anything can happen.

Alonso assesses championship chances

When asked if he feels that he can get closer to the Red Bulls in the title fight at some point during the season, Alonso told media, including RacingNews365.com: "Let's see.

"I think in any other of the seasons that I remember, back in the 2000s or early 2010s, I would be leading the championship with the results that I got this year.

"But now there is Red Bull and Max dominating every race and, even with great results, you're just stepping behind them, every race.

"I don't know. We didn't have the best car in 2010 and we arrived leading the championship in Abu Dhabi. We didn't have the best car in '12 and we still fight for the championship until the last lap in Brazil.

"So the championship is long, we will not give up."

Aston Martin need Red Bull mistakes

With Perez's crash in Q1 of qualifying in Monte Carlo putting him at the back of the grid, Alonso admits that any further mistakes from Red Bull could help Aston Martin to close the gap.

"We will need weekends where Red Bull has some issues, like Sergio had here, with a DNF or zero points," Alonso explained.

"If Max has one or two of those, we will be a little bit closer in the championship. This is motorsport – anything can happen. But, on pure pace, I think we don't have the chance yet.

"But we will not give up, for sure."