Alonso has acknowledged that Aston Martin has returned to being a team in the middle of the pack. Fernando Alonso stated that Aston Martin cannot ignore the fact that they were involved in a competitive battle during the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix and that they have work to do in order to compete for podium finishes.
Alonso’s well-executed strategy, which involved making only one pit stop, allowed him to finish in eighth place at the Belgian GP. This result added four more points to Aston Martin’s total, bringing them to a total of 73 points and placing them fifth in the Constructors’ standings.
However, Aston Martin is currently 193 points behind Mercedes, who are in fourth place. This is a significant difference compared to where Aston Martin was at the beginning of last season. In 2023, Alonso achieved six podium finishes in the first eight races. In contrast, at Spa this year, he finished three seconds ahead of Esteban Ocon in ninth place. Sergio Perez, the last of the top runners, was able to make a pit stop and chase the fastest lap.
Alonso expressed his disappointment with Aston Martin’s position in the midfield fight after the race in Belgium. He acknowledged that they are now competing with teams like Williams, Red Bull, and Alpine, whereas last year they were aiming to challenge the top four teams. Alonso emphasized the need for improvement and the importance of the summer break and the second half of the year.
For Alonso and the Aston Martin team, going from narrowly missing opportunities to win Grand Prix races to falling back into the midfield is undoubtedly a difficult situation. However, Aston Martin has a solid foundation to build upon for the future. Their state-of-the-art factory will soon be fully operational, and a new wind tunnel is also on the horizon. Additionally, the team has secured a Honda works engine deal for 2026, which will further strengthen Aston Martin. Alonso’s commitment to the team indicates his belief in their promising future.
Nonetheless, it is crucial for Aston Martin to make improvements after the summer break in order to keep Alonso motivated and engaged for the remainder of the season.