Fernando Alonso believes that Aston Martin have been "outstanding" in terms of overachieving during their time in Formula 1. Before taking their current name in 2021, the squad previously raced under the Racing Point guise and often posed a challenge to larger teams on the grid, with the outfit achieving fourth place in the Constructors' Championship in 2020. Alonso – who joins the team on a multi-year contract for 2023 – has been impressed by their success in recent years. "This team has been always outstanding in terms of delivering results for the possibilities that they had, and the facilities that were maybe not [the same] as a top team," Alonso told media, including RacingNews365.com .
Alonso expects long-term change at Aston Martin
Now, with a new factory being built and a recent recruitment drive, the Spaniard is keen to see how Aston Martin continue to grow, particularly in the long-term. "They nearly doubled the personnel in the last 24 months," Alonso continued. "This year [is the third as] Aston Martin and I think there [are] a lot of things going on right now, because these new people have joined the team. "[There are] new ideas, the new factory. For sure, it will take time. It's more a long-term benefit that you will see. "But, in the short-term, you will see also with the new car that there are other things that are already visible, [in] how the team can grow quickly."
Aston Martin project 'ambitious', says Alonso
Alonso – who will turn 42 in 2023 – acknowledges that his time in F1 will at some point come to an end, but hopes to contribute as much as possible to the Aston Martin project while he is with the team. "In Formula 1 there are no shortcuts; you need the investment, you need the talent in the factory," the two-time World Champion explained. "This project is very ambitious at the moment and has a lot of things to prove, but a lot of things to go through in the next few years. "I know that my time is not unlimited behind the wheel, but I will try to make this process [of development as short as possible] and help the team as much as I can."
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