Fernando Alonso, double Formula 1 world champion, spoke about his future as a driver within the framework of the presentation of the AMR24, the new Aston Martin car with which he will compete next season: “First I will decide if I want to continue longer with the total dedication that F1 demands. I need to understand what I want to do and I will sit down with Aston Martin, who are the priority, when the first races start and I analyze everything, then I will make a decision.”
In this way, the Asturian left the door open to a future retirement, although he stressed that physically he feels “better than ever.” Thus, the driver has not decided if he wants to continue in F1, nor for how long he would do so. However, should he continue, he would sit down “first with Aston Martin”, with whom he has a contract running this year.
Regarding the much-discussed replacement of Alonso by Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025 after the Briton signed for Ferrari, the Spaniard did not want to mention anything about the hypothetical move. When asked if he has been contacted by any team, Alonso commented that “at the moment they have not asked me directly.” Likewise, he explained that, if an agreement is not reached with Aston Martin, the Spanish driver has a “privileged” position. “I am attractive to other teams, there is only one world champion available and it is me,” he said.
The 42-year-old Spaniard was cautious but motivated when talking about next season. “I would like to be in the points always, regularly. Fight for the podiums on a recurring basis. I hope last year’s eight are repeated; or that they are at least those. I hope a victory comes, the first for this team, for Aston Martin; the first one in green. And that I could be behind the wheel. It would be a privilege to have my name in the history of this brand. But it is difficult to know today. Until we do the first tests we will not know,” he commented.
Alonso and his teammate, Canadian Lance Stroll, will have to pilot the new AMR24 this season. Among the different innovations shown, the car presents changes in the design of the chassis, the nose, the front spoiler, the front suspension and the rear suspension. It is a single-seater that, according to the Aston Martin team, is lighter and more aerodynamically efficient, “designed to operate on a wider range of circuits.” “Almost every aspect of the car has been refined and improved, taking advantage of our strengths and assimilating the lessons of the previous campaign,” said team principal Mike Krack.
Dan Fallows, creator of the AMR24, has argued that they return to the traditional push-front and push-rear configuration, just as Red Bull has been doing and Mercedes will do this year. “We inherited the engine, box and rear suspension from Mercedes and it changes this season, while at the front we remain the same, with push-rod,” he explained.
“The design of the front wing has been modified to help manage the wake from the front wheels more efficiently. Combined with the spoilers on the wheels, the aim is to control the wake from the front tires and direct it away from the rest of the car to allow the other downforce-producing surfaces to work more efficiently,” Fallows added.
The Asturian driver was satisfied with the work of Aston Martin and the new car: “I am incredibly proud of this team and what has been achieved in such a short time. I always enjoy this feeling at the beginning of a new campaign and this season It will be my 21st as a Formula 1 driver. The whole team has been working hard to prepare AMR24, but there are many questions to answer in testing and in the first races. I can’t wait to get in the cockpit and start my second season green”.
