Fernando Alonso He has recognized that he himself did not expect to start the season on the podium and has rated the Third place got in Bahrain as “unbelievable… almost unreal“. The Asturian pilot, who at 41 is the oldest in Grill, has savored this success like never before and what it means for him and his team. “Eight months ago when I signed for Aston Martin We did not imagine being able to be at this point now, it’s a dream come true“He acknowledged with a wide smile.
“Has been a great weekendfinish on the podium in the first race of the year… It’s amazing what Aston Martin has done this winter to have the second best car in the first race. Today we had the fastest car on the track after the Red Bull and I am very happy for the team and for this project”, added Fernando.
To get on the podium Alonso had to overcome the two Mercedes and finally the Ferrari of Sainz: “Obviously, I would love to have started ahead of them and then take advantage of the race pace we have. But we didn’t have the best start today either and then we had to overtake on the track. It’s a bit more exciting that way, with more adrenaline, sure. People enjoy it and we enjoy it. So We’ll see what happens in two weeks in the next race jeddah“.
Alonso also wanted to underline the merit of his teammate Lance Stroll for finishing sixth after his serious bicycle accident: “Congratulations to Lance, my teammate. She had the surgery 12 days ago and now she is struggling with everyone. These days we have been in permanent contact, after doing a lot of work in the simulator, grouping ideas, also with the testers Stoffel Vandoorne and Felipe Drugovich, but the result was virtual and now seeing that the project is going so well on the track shows all the work of the team and the good atmosphere and the illusion that there is in the factory, the people there go like a motorcycle”, said Fernando, congratulated by hamilton after the race.
Regarding the leap in quality that allows Aston Martin to fight with Mercedes and Ferrari, Alonso has pointed out that “while Red Bull and Ferrari have perfected a concept that they already had in 2022, we we have made a brand new car and we will find many benefits in the coming months. Definitely it’s the perfect beginning for this adventure”, concluded Alonso, full of joy.