Pressure's on Aston Martin to follow up ‘historical season’ - Alonso

Fernando Alonso believes Aston Martin will have added pressure to deal with next year after an “historical season” in 2023.

The Spaniard joined Aston from Alpine a year ago, moving from the team that had finished fourth in the 2022 constructors’ standings to the team that was seventh. A remarkable turnaround over the winter saw Alonso start the season with six podiums from the first eight races, and he said that step forward now means expectations will be very different heading into the 2024 campaign.

“It has been an historical season for Aston Martin and for myself,” Alonso said. “Eight podiums, more than 200 points, nearly 300 points for the team. 12 months ago this was unthinkable so this is the best season ever for the team, as well as with whatever name they have had before, so this is an incredible year to remember.

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“The expectations were low so we exceeded the expectations this year. Maybe next year it will be the opposite and the expectations will be high, so we have some pressure on our shoulders.”

Alonso said is comfortable with that added pressure, even if he wants to keep expectations realistic.

“This is Formula 1, this is not a charity event, we have to have the pressure and have to deliver," he said. "Fifth in the constructors’; it hurts a little bit because I think we were better than that and hoping better than that at the beginning of the year.

“On the drivers’, to finish fourth, it is a little bit unreal, fighting with the guys that we were fighting. In fact, if we were fifth in the constructors’ you should be ninth and 10th in the drivers’. It is a dream season for many people in Aston Martin, including myself.

“It is completely unexpected, completely unreal to be fourth in the championship. 2012 and this season, for me, are the best in my career. It is a position that I could never imagine at the beginning of the year or with the car performance that we had.”