Fernando Alonso identifies mid-season development as an essential component of Aston Martin’s success in 2024. The Double World Champion hopes to see a reversal of the team’s trajectory last season.
Alonso enters the paddock in Jeddah with plenty to consider. On one hand, his current team wants to secure his services and agree to another contract extension.
The Silverstone-based outfit will almost certainly reach any demands the Spaniard sets out.
That said, the 42-year-old is also a free agent. In a season with so many available seats (including at top teams), this presents a moment of tremendous opportunity.
Moving forward, several variables will be considered. Primarily, Aston Martin’s performance and their ability to fight at the front will be evaluated.
From here (assuming Alonso continues in Formula 1), other teams on the grid can be assessed and evaluated ahead of 2025.
Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team AMR24 leaves the pits.
01.03.2024. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir, Bahrain, Qualifying Day.
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Aston Martin banks on effective upgrades
Focusing on his current team, the Spaniard explains that mid-season development will be essential:
“Last year, we started with a very good baseline.
“We were not strong enough as a team to keep up with the progress the top teams were making.
“This year, we want to change that and be a top team also off-track with the development race.”
This is an admirable goal for Aston Martin to set and is certainly a logical one given the last twelve months.
However, the Bahrain GP seems to be a strong indication that last year’s development struggles have put them on the defensive heading into 2024.
Whilst the AMR24 cannot be written off at this stage, the team no longer has a margin for error when introducing updates.
This is especially true given that – by Fernando Alonso’s reckoning – the team has lost one of its strengths from the AMR23.
Every change must generate improvement, and relatively quickly, something Red Bull has demonstrated on a regular basis.
Even Ferrari and Mercedes were able to extract more performance consistently in 2023.
Several big names are now at the front of Formula 1, and the Silverstone-based outfit must prove they are among them.
Until then, however, speculation about Fernando Alonso’s future will continue.
Author: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
