The suffering in Austria has been repeated at Silverstone, another high-speed cornering circuit that has also choked Aston Martin. Fernando Alonso I expected a defensive race and had to work hard to finish seventh and minimize damage, in search of the regularity that keeps him third in the World Cup, waiting for better times. With everything, the disappointment of the Asturian, after chaining six podiums in the first races, is evident.
Alonso, who could only be ninth in qualifying on Saturday, has gained two places with a good start, but the lack of pace in his Aston Martin has been evident from the start, when Hamilton has passed him with a large speed differential. This time, however, Fortune has been on his side and the start of a safety car has allowed him to finish seventhabove expectations, as he confessed after the race in Great Britain.
“We were slow all weekend, in all sessions and it was no different in the race. We lacked rhythm at the beginning with Gasly and at the end with Checo and Albon”, Fernando lamented, resigned.
“The start of the safety car benefited us and from there we tried to maintain the position. In the end we lost, we asked for a place with Checo, who was going very fast with the Red Bull and I think that seventh is a result above what the car allowed today”, he considered.
“Other teams like Ferrari flew here and in the end they finished ninth and tenthThat’s what we have to avoid”, Alonso assessed, aware that Aston Martin has a lot of work ahead of it if it wants to recover its advantage over increasingly stronger rivals and before the appearance of McLaren on the game board.
Alonso does not attribute Aston Martin’s step backwards to a single factor: “It’s probably a little bit of everything. Others have improved, some teams that have brought significant improvements lately. Also the circuit, this is not one of the best for us, for the package we have. It’s also the first time we’ve had this new construction on the tires and we have to look at it. But we have saved a very difficult weekend and I hope that in Hungary we will be competitive again ”, he affirms.
The two-time champion is the only driver along with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton who has scored points in each grand prix and hopes that within two weeks the World Championship will reach one of its favorable circuits, the Hungaroring, where he won his first victory in F1 (2003). and where Aston Martin should do better in its slow corners.
“I am not concerned with the development of the car, it will be better or worse depending on the circuit. We cannot stress if we are seventh or not always on the podium. We have to be pragmatic and relax with our performance. The McLarens were very quick here, but they are many points behind in the championship, we should have enough pace to maintain the gap. Apart from Red Bull it will be difficult for anyone to have great advantages this year. With Mercedes and Ferrari it will be tight until the end”, ditch.