Baku, Azerbaijan.- “We thought we had a car with good performance, but not enough to compete with Mercedes and Ferrari,” savored Fernando Alonso, who came to Aston Martin for this season, within the framework of the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which is taking place this weekend. of week.
Since the beginning of the year, the oldest driver on the grid (41 years old) has been on the podium and hopes to be able to achieve his 33rd victory in the premier class soon.
– The season has started very well, with three podiums in three races. What first balance does of this beginning of course?
“This season is unbelievably and surprisingly good, to be honest. We thought we had a good performing car, but not to rival Mercedes and Ferrari, that surprised us. Maybe those two teams have underperformed a little bit in the first few races, but they are still very strong and will improve (…) We cannot take for granted that the whole season will be like this, things can change quickly. We must therefore continue our development.”
– Will we see the 33rd victory of his career in Formula 1 this year?
“It’s what I hope, but without guarantees. If we look at what happened in recent years, (Pierre) Gasly won in Monza or (Esteban) Ocon in Hungary, so the chance to win a race is always there. But the closer “We’re from the hierarchy, the better it will be, so why not. At the moment, we depend on others, the chance to win will be more linked to a problem (on the part of the competition) and not to us being the best”.
– Has a “multi-year” contract with Aston Martin. Do you expect to renew it?
“I don’t know (…) in 2024 I hope to have the opportunity to continue on the podium, I already got it three times in 2023 and things are going better than expected. It may be tempting to renew, but it may also be tempting to finish now and do it with a smile. In 2026 there are expected to be new rules and I don’t know if he wants to commit me in that way, so let’s go year by year”.
– In 2019 and 2020 he took a break from F1 and returned in 2021 with Alpine. Was that time away from this competition good for you?
“It helped me, perhaps not so much in terms of driving style but more in mentality and focus, in motivation. When you’re in F1 since you were 18, it’s not that you lose motivation, I’ve always had that, but I was tired traveling, routine, repeating the same thing, so those two years were refreshing, I was able to recharge my batteries (…) Mentally I’m much fresher, happy when I get to the circuit early, happy when I talk to the engineers ( …) Now I have full batteries.”
– Do you feel a better driver now than when you won the world titles in 2005 and 2006 with Renault?
“Now I’m much better, 100%.”
– Relations with Lewis Hamilton have not always been excellent, what consideration do you currently deserve?
“I respect him a lot. Maybe this year we are fighting closer to each other (…) I still think he is one of the best drivers. At the same time, he has had the opportunity to have a car that has been very dominant for five years Michael (Schumacher) won seven titles (with Benetton and Ferrari), Max (Verstappen) will probably win three (with Red Bull), I won two (with Renault)… You always need to have the best car to win the championship.”
– Precisely, what do you think of the performance of the current champion, Max Verstappen?
“He drives better than the others, he is at his best and he has the fastest car, so everything is perfect for him (…) For now he seems indestructible (…) I would like to challenge him, do Le Mans with him, pass the car and know that it is in good hands. We are very good friends”.
