Pedro Martínez de la Rosa (Barcelona, 51 years old) followed from the garage, dressed in green, Alonso’s first test at the wheel of the Aston Martin. The Catalan driver (105 F1 Grands Prix) is ambassador of Fernando’s new team and will attend a good part of the 2023 races. The day reminded him from the start of that Jaguar training session that the two Spaniards shared in 2002. It is not the only point in common: De la Rosa appreciates that the hunger and illusion of Alonso twenty years later they remain intact.
—Fernando has changed teams several times and in recent years it has not always gone well. What does it say to the skeptical fan?
—I would tell him that nobody knows, this is not mathematics. But one always has to bet on the best option available and at the moment, without a doubt, it is Aston Martin. But not because of the current performance, that everyone sees. What Fernando sees and what those of us in the team see are the aspirations they have, the changes, the tools, the new wind tunnel, new simulator, new factory. It’s all very hopeful and that’s Aston Martin’s business card, the main reason why Fernando is here. It is the future. But we don’t know how long it takes for it to bear fruit, this is not a football team that by signing four stars you already have a lot done.
—He has seen the birth, formation and dissolution of several teams. What makes Aston Martin special? Because when Red Bull came to F1 it was just an energy drink…
—Everything that the team is investing, which is what I would do if I were the ‘main team’. Above all human capital, very important and vital in F1. They are signing and reinforcing very well. That is symptomatic. And also what people don’t see, the sensations when talking to the people on the team. Going to the factory. Those feelings are sometimes what make you make decisions. They can explain the new factory to you, but in the end you only have a construction in front of you. The sensations are what personally give me more confidence. Things are done well and the people who do them are the right people.
And the right pilot…
—I always look at a team based on its pilots. Because I think that then the team leaders will make those same decisions, correct or not, in the selection of their personnel. When I see a team that throws itself at Fernando’s neck when there is a possibility that he will be released… I think that if they make the right decisions, they also make them in terms of human capital, engineers, mechanics, signings. And also because of how aggressive they are when signing up. Aston Martin, as soon as a piece of pilot like Vettel says that he is retiring, contact Fernando. It was not foreseen, but they had to go for the best driver on the market and the signing was done in hours. Where is the talent? Let’s go for him. That’s why I’m very hopeful and I don’t think he’s an optimist by nature, I’m a pretty objective guy. I don’t know the degree of improvement that we are going to have and if it will be enough for Fernando. I know Aston Martin will win, I have no doubt, but I don’t know when. Enough for before Fernando wants to retire?
—Well, it seems that Fernando still has a lot of time…
—Fernando is amazing. He is 41 years old, but how long can he continue? I do nothing more than say that this is not football or tennis, this age situation is uncovered with Fernando because Alpine only wanted to give him one more year of contract, but let’s not confuse: that Alpine was wrong does not mean that Fernando is higher or lower performance. Fernando’s performance on the track is brutal. They ask me about my reflexes, my eyesight, but Fernando’s starts are still the fastest. Does age affect you? Not yet. When will it affect you? I do not know. But at the moment he is like a bull.
—What did you think of the season that is already ending?
—Good, for the domain that there has been. When a driver wins the World Championship with 15 victories and so many points advantage, you expect something much more boring. We have seen Mercedes domains in which they have won fewer races, but they have been very boring, but this time it has been a very fun domain because Verstappen has worked hard, he has had to fight, he has not taken pole position every Saturday. He has impressed me a lot and I have liked the season. If we had had a Ferrari as strong in the second half as the first, everything would have been more beautiful but with the same final winner. Because Verstappen is untouchable.