Fernando Alonso Arrives in Austria Amid Difficulties for Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso has arrived in Austria, where he is set to compete in the upcoming Grand Prix for Aston Martin. The team has struggled to make significant improvements in recent weeks, and Alonso is aware that they will likely continue on a similar path unless they can find a suitable setup to boost their performance on the Red Bull Ring.
“We can’t be disappointed, this is the place where we are. We want to change this and improve as soon as possible,” Alonso said in a statement prior to the event.
Aston Martin has been open about its realistic expectations, and Alonso acknowledges that there is no quick fix. “There is no magic solution from one day to the next, so we have to work hard,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Alonso is pleased to be able to continue working with his teammate, Lance Stroll, who has extended his contract with the team until 2026. “It’s a wonderful day for the team. Lance has spent many years on this team, with this group of people. I personally feel very good about this year and a half working together,” Alonso said.
Track Limits
One of the key changes for the Austrian Grand Prix is the installation of new gravel strips to prevent drivers from being penalized for track limits. Alonso believes that this change will benefit some drivers more than others, saying, “Yes, for some drivers yes, because they had many penalties in the past. I didn’t have any.”
Qualifying
Alonso is anticipating a challenging qualifying session, saying, “I think it’s a great challenge. I think one of the most important of the season. I bet it will be half a second, from pole to 20th place.” He emphasizes the importance of getting everything perfect, citing the tight nature of the track and the risk of losing positions due to traffic.
“It is one of the shortest circuits on the calendar, so it will be difficult to place the 20 cars in Q1,” Alonso said. “So the stress getting everything perfect will be huge. And then there’s traffic.”