Alonso’s transfer to Aston Martin from Alpine for the 2023 season turned heads when it was announced in the summer of 2022. This decision, consistent with Alonso’s history of bold team changes, was met with skepticism due to his previous experiences.
However, upon joining the Silverstone-based team, Alonso quickly found success with the launch spec of the 2023 car, securing six podium finishes in the initial eight races.
While the driver he replaced, Sebastian Vettel, received praise for his role in the team’s progress, team boss Mike Krack highlighted Alonso’s rookie enthusiasm and strong work ethic as pivotal factors in the team’s improvement.
Krack emphasized Alonso’s positive impact, stating, “We had a driver here where you think it’s his first season, he was just full of energy, not only driving us but also driving himself and, and he was really leading by example, being the first in the office.”
Aston Martin’s performance director, Tom McCullough, commended Alonso’s relentless drive to push the team forward and exceeded expectations of his working style.
McCullough noted, “He has been relentless. Not really knowing him well, you had a bit of a picture of what he was going to be like, but it’s been very impressive how hard he’s pushed, but also how efficient he is with his feedback and how knowledgeable he is.”
Despite the team’s performance tapering off in the latter part of 2023, losing the fourth position to McLaren, tensions within the team were minimal.
Krack expressed pride in the team’s unity, stating, “I’m really happy [with] the way we have handled it, without having huge breakouts in the media, hammering each other or going against each other.”
As Alonso gears up for his 21st season in Formula 1, a video posted on social media revealed his enduring enthusiasm. He expressed excitement, saying, “Even if it’s the 21st season in F1, it’s still the same adrenaline,” emphasizing his continuous pursuit of improvement and learning.
Looking ahead, Krack expressed his desire to extend Alonso’s contract beyond 2024, stating, “I really hope so. I really hope we can continue. If we maintain the dynamics and the collaboration that we have now, we can go on forever.”
