It has not been the simplest of seasons for Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin. Whereas the staff was the darlings of the paddock early final season, the state of affairs has modified since then. In the meanwhile they discover themselves mired in fifth place within the Method 1 Constructors’ standings, effectively forward of sixth-place Visa Money App RB F1 Workforce, however effectively off the tempo set by fourth-place Mercedes.
And in accordance with Alonso, their state of affairs won’t enhance this weekend in Budapest.
Talking Thursday on the FIA Press Convention forward of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Alonso opened up in regards to the staff’s struggles. Particularly, the motive force famous simply how troublesome it’s for the staff to get the AMR24 into the best working window.
“Nicely, I feel it’s fairly troublesome to have the automotive in the proper window for the time being for us. We’re struggling to maximise the potential of the automotive. I feel in Barcelona, we began the weekend on the mistaken foot, and we couldn’t get well from that unhealthy FP1, let’s say,” mentioned Alonso on Thursday. “In Austria, with the Dash weekend, you solely have one free follow. And yeah, once more, we didn’t optimize the package deal. And in Silverstone, yeah, we had a little bit bit extra regular weekend. It was a little bit bit cooler as effectively, which in all probability did assist our efficiency. And yeah, let’s see right here. It’s one other scorching observe, perhaps just like Barcelona when it comes to nook speeds and issues. So it’s a problem for us.”
Alonso then elaborated on the insecurity he has had within the automotive this season, in addition to how a number of the inconsistency with the AMR24 has led to “dangerous” choices by him and the staff.
“A couple of issues, not just one. As I mentioned earlier than, I feel the automotive will not be simple to drive and it’s a little bit bit unpredictable at occasions,” started Alonso. “So this clearly removes confidence to the motive force, when you find yourself not in a position to push and to belief the automotive that can do the identical in each nook, in each lap. So this, let’s say, inconsistency is one thing that’s not nice when you find yourself behind the wheel, and I’m struggling extra this 12 months than beforehand. Yeah, after which clearly when margins are so tight and you might be in a detailed battle for one or two factors, generally you’re taking extra dangerous choices.
“Typically you gamble on a technique. Typically you threat greater than what it is best to within the begin or on a set-up alternative that we went for. As an alternative of adjusting one thing minimal earlier than qualifying, we alter the entire automotive earlier than qualifying as a result of we all know that with a present automotive in FP3, we won’t be able to attain a couple of or two factors, so that you threat it extra.
“So there are all the time penalties with issues that you simply do when you find yourself used to struggle for larger positions and you end up simply aiming for one or two factors, generally you threat all of it to have a prime 5 or being out of the factors will not be a giant loss. These type of issues we study so much throughout this season and possibly has been our, or my, private largest issue.”
So far as what Alonso expects this weekend, in addition to subsequent weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, he isn’t setting his sights too excessive.
“Troublesome to say. I feel it relies upon a little bit bit observe to trace and it’s very shut within the midfield. I might love to complete each races within the factors and that will likely be a superb signal that the brand new package deal is delivering what we anticipate,” described Alonso. “I feel the highest 4 groups are a little bit bit too distant from our attain for the time being. So yeah, I feel we have to do smaller steps on the time and being within the factors on each races that will likely be in all probability the goal.”
Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll will get their first crack on the circuit in Budapest later right this moment with a pair of follow periods forward of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
