(Motorsports news) With six podium performances during the first eight weekends of the season, including second-place finishes in Monaco and Canada, Fernando Alonso unexpectedly overtook Red Bull as the season’s top squad. Aston Martin has dropped down the pecking order, though, with Mercedes and McLaren overtaking the Silverstone-based squad as other teams have upgraded in recent Grands Prix.
Despite this, Alonso said, “Incredible,” when asked how he views the season thus far. “The first half of the season has been a dream. We are P3 in the drivers’ championship alongside Lewis, and we are P3 in the constructors’ title ahead of Ferrari. This style of thinking was not conceivable in Bahrain.
Before the summer break, team president Mike Krack praised the “open and transparent” relationship between the team and the driver in an exclusive interview. Alonso’s switch to Aston sparked questions when it was made public because of the dramatic contrast between his on-track performance and that of Alpine, his previous employer.
Given the upheaval going on at Alpine, Alonso commented on the success of his winter swap, saying: “You know, it would be good to have a crystal ball and you know the future before you make a decision in switching teams. However, you know, in the end, I’m content with where I am and I’m extremely proud of the project here for the future.
Alonso, 42, defies the conventional wisdom that a driver loses their competitive edge as they get older. However, Alonso argued that youth is not the only factor in contemporary Formula One, citing Daniel Ricciardo’s successful comeback at AlphaTauri.
The Spanish laughed, “It [my age] was the theme the whole year.” “But no, I think people always understood that, you know, when you’re 41 or when you’re 25, it’s not a tremendous change.
“It has more to do with your mindset, your drive, and how you approach the weekend. And yes, they bet more on experience in other teams for races like today’s or for today’s stars or even for a few examples. Like Daniel Ricciardo right now in AlphaTauri, and similar things. Thus, it isn’t about being young; it’s just about moving quickly.
