Fernando Alonso (Oviedo, 1981) faces a new season in Formula 1 with the uncertainty and excitement of major changes at Aston Martin. After more than two decades in the premier class of motorsport, the Asturian faces 2024 with the arrival of Adrian Newey, a key figure in the dominance of Red Bull and whose incorporation could mark a before and after in the team.
About to travel to Bahrain to start the preseason, Alonso attends to a small group of Spanish journalists in London, during the official presentation of the team, including EFE.
-How much can Aston Martin improve compared to the final stretch of last season?
-We have to be cautious. As you say, at the end of last year we went through some problems, especially in the last races. Since Abu Dhabi, only three or four months have passed and we have worked intensively to improve the car. A lot of things have been changed, about 90 or 95% of the aerodynamics and the aesthetics. Now, all the teams have worked in the winter, so we expect a very close fight. We saw last year that half a second could make a big difference, and this year will be no different.
-This winter has been more discreet in terms of information about the team. Is it a strategy to start with lower expectations and surprise later, as McLaren did two years ago?
-I think it all depends on how you finish the previous season. In 2023, we started very well, went through a blip and then finished strong with the podium in Brazil against Checo (Perez). That made us think that with a small step forward in winter we would be back in the fight.
This year, on the other hand, we closed the season a little lower, which gives the impression that we have been more cautious in the winter. But the reality is that we have worked harder than ever. The improvements on the cars now are minimal, with the regulations stabilized. If you manage to improve two or three tenths, it’s a big step forward. Before, finding half a second was normal. Now, everything is tighter.
-How are you personally facing this season? What would be a good year for you?
I think the Bahrain test and the first races will be less decisive than in the past. In the last two years we have seen radical changes in teams during the season, like McLaren in 2022 or Mercedes in 2023. Now, if you hit the key at race 9, you still have a lot of room until race 24 to improve.
So I’m taking it a little easier. For me, a good year would mean at least matching what we achieved in 2023. We finished fifth in constructors and, honestly, we were not the fifth fastest at the end of the year. If we can maintain that level or improve on it, it will be a success.
-At the season presentation, the drivers left predictions in a time capsule to be opened in 25 years. Without revealing what you wrote, what would you like to see change in Formula 1 in that time?
-I would like to see F1 not too far from what it is now, but with some improvements. In the last 25 years, the biggest change has been in safety, which is positive. Before, drivers, mechanics and stewards were taking huge risks.
However, there are aspects that have gotten worse: the cars are now too heavy, they have lost their characteristic sound, the races are more predictable. There is no refueling, there are fewer pit stops, and when it rains, the cars are too big and with tires that make visibility difficult.
Hopefully in 25 years F1 will still be safe, but with lighter, faster and more spectacular cars for the public.
-Who can have a greater impact on your new team: Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari or Adrian Newey at Aston Martin?
Adrian Newey will undoubtedly have more impact than any driver. Drivers come and go, but it’s the designers who make the real difference. I don’t know what Hamilton will be able to bring to Ferrari, but I ‘m sure it will be less than what an engineer like Newey can do for a team.
-What is the plan with Adrian Newey within Aston Martin?
I think he will be a free soul. He can’t be told what to do. If he decides to focus on the 2025 car , perfect. If he prefers to focus on 2026, it will also be a good sign, because it will mean that he is already clear about the long-term project.
I asked Lawrence Stroll several times about his role and he always says the same thing: “We are not going to be able to control him or tell him what to do. He does what he wants to do and that’s the best thing.
With the season about to begin, Alonso is confident that Aston Martin has worked in the right direction. However, the Spaniard warns that in modern Formula 1 it is not enough to start strong, but that the pace of evolution must be maintained throughout the year.
