P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alonso: Aston Martin faces "tricky period" as it makes next step in F1
In 2023, the Silverstone-based Aston Martin team made significant progress, earning eight podium finishes, including three second places, thanks to driver Fernando Alonso. Despite this improvement, the team only moved from seventh to fifth place in the constructors’ championship due to teammate Lance Stroll’s lackluster performance. Alonso acknowledges the team’s better-than-expected performance in his first year but emphasizes that further progress won’t come easily. He believes that the first step, becoming a top 10 contender like Alpine or AlphaTauri, is the easiest part, but the real challenge lies in finding that extra edge and being innovative. Aston Martin learned from experiments with different aero packages and now has a better understanding of how to develop the AMR24, but they must remain flexible as the sport evolves rapidly and trends change.
