Alonso hopes Aston Martin can turn its season around

Following an impressive showing at the start of 2023, Aston Martin has slipped down the Formula 1 pecking order for the current season, but two-time world champion Fernando Alonso still believes that the British outfit can regain its form.

Having joined Aston Martin last year, Fernando Alonso scored six podium finishes in the opening eight races of the 2023 F1 season. The team brought upgrades to its AMR23 on a regular basis, but it was not enough to keep up with Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren in the development race.

For 2024, the Silverstone-based outfit has had big hopes, but the team finds itself in a no man's land with the leading quartet having escaped into the distance.

Despite the tough start to the current season, Fernando Alonso is hopeful that his team can turn its season around with the help of upgrades.

"The team are working flat out to bring new parts to every race and hopefully we can improve our competitiveness. The Spanish Grand Prix marks the start of a triple-header so we need to work together as a team to make sure we are able to extract the maximum we can from each weekend.

"We will also need to support each other during the next three races, as triple-headers can be a physical and mental challenge for everyone in the team, not just the drivers."

The two-time world champion is looking forward to his 21st Spanish Grand Prix. Over the years, he has experienced both success and disaster at the Spanish Grand Prix. He clinched his first home victory with Renault in 2006 which he could repeat with Ferrari in 2013.

"The Spanish Grand Prix has always been a special race for me and it's always nice to come home and embrace the amazing atmosphere. This will be my 21st Spanish Grand Prix and I will feel as proud as I did at my first home race when I go round the track.

"The Spanish fans always come out in full force and provide us with the additional motivation to do well. It's always nice to see them at the Fan Forum as well - so many come along to show their support for the team."

"Over the years there have been some exciting battles on track and one that stands out is my win in 2006. It was my first victory at my home race, and I will always remember the fan's reactions it was very special.

"There is always a different kind of energy at the Spanish Grand Prix for me - the fans are so passionate. Another good memory of mine was the blue wave in 2005 and 2006 which is now becoming a green wave."

The track has undergone major changes in recent years: in 2021 turns 10 and 11 were transformed into one long hairpin and last year, the unpopular final chicane, a thorn in the driver’s side which demanded a lot from the cars in terms of traction at the very end of the lap, has reverted to its original layout, namely two very fast corners propelling the cars onto the start-finish straight at full speed.

Expanding on the challenges posed by the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Alonso noted: "It's a circuit all the drivers and teams know well so everyone has a lot of experience there. Tyre degradation is a key factor at this track which means the pit-stop strategy plays a big part in the race.

"Overtaking is not easy either, so making sure the car is set-up right ahead of Saturday will be important as qualifying position is crucial to having a good Sunday."

"The removal of the chicane helped to make the last sector more flowing, and it has made tyre management even more important throughout the race. I think it's quite fun to drive through it again at high-speed."