Going into the Italian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso and his Aston Martin team were already aware that Monza wouldn’t be the best fit for their AMR23 car. This reality was reflected in Alonso’s 10th place qualification, marking it as the lowest starting position he’s had all season.
Even with Alonso’s characteristic combativeness on the track, he could only claw his way to a ninth-place finish. This outcome ties with his result in Hungary, making it the poorest performance of his season. Nonetheless, the Spaniard maintained his streak of earning points in every race so far.
“We’ve got a lot to learn from today,” Alonso stated. “We simply weren’t competitive, so that’s our main concern. We need to dissect what went wrong for us on circuits like this and make adjustments for future races, including next year’s return to Monza.”
He added, “As far as the race is concerned, there isn’t much to say. We were dragging from start to finish, and ninth was the best we could manage. We’ll pocket these points but, more importantly, we’re looking to learn some hard lessons here.”
When queried about the frustration of driving an uncompetitive car, Alonso didn’t mince words. “It’s highly aggravating, especially because driving this car, with such low grip levels, made it one of the year’s most mentally and physically demanding races for me. I’ll remember it even if it’s a race that’ll be easily forgotten by others, mainly because it was a tough one for me.”
As for the root cause of their problems, Alonso elaborated, “The car’s overall efficiency just isn’t cutting it, especially on a track like this where drag level is crucial. We’ve identified this as a weak point and now need to brainstorm some upgrades.”
However, Alonso did express some satisfaction with the team’s ability to extract the maximum out of what they had. “We’re giving it our all every Sunday,” he acknowledged. “Sometimes, like today, the best we can muster is ninth, but other times we’re up there in second place, like last week in Zandvoort. We’re not messing up. We’re consistent with our strategies and pit stops, which puts us in a good position points-wise.”
Concluding his post-race analysis, Alonso cautioned, “Things are heating up in the constructors’ championship. Ferrari has overtaken us after today’s results. We’ll have to up our game for the next race in Singapore and try to turn things around.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Fernando Alonso’s Lackluster Performance at Italian GP
What was Fernando Alonso’s starting position for the Italian Grand Prix?
Fernando Alonso started the race in 10th place, which was his lowest starting grid position of the F1 season.
How did Alonso perform in the Italian Grand Prix?
Alonso finished in ninth place, tying his worst result of the season, which he previously set in Hungary.
What did Alonso have to say about his car’s performance?
Alonso was candid about his car’s shortcomings, stating that the Aston Martin AMR23 was not competitive at Monza. He mentioned that the car’s overall efficiency and drag levels were problematic, especially on a track like Monza where those factors are critical.
Was Alonso frustrated by the race?
Yes, Alonso expressed significant frustration. He found the race to be mentally and physically demanding, primarily because he had to work with a car that had very low grip. He described it as one of the most difficult races of the year for him.
Did Alonso point out any specific issues with the Aston Martin car?
Yes, he did. Alonso specifically mentioned that the car’s efficiency was lacking, especially in terms of its aerodynamics and drag levels. He stated that this has been identified as a weak point that the team needs to address.
What did Alonso say about his team’s strategy and execution?
Alonso commended his team for not making any major mistakes, executing good strategies, and performing well in pit stops. He felt they were maximizing the potential of the car, even if that potential was limited.
What is Alonso’s outlook for the rest of the season?
Alonso acknowledged that other teams, notably Ferrari, are pulling ahead in the constructors’ championship. However, he expressed hope that the lessons learned from this race would help them improve in future events, starting with the next race in Singapore.
How did this result impact the constructors’ championship?
According to Alonso, Ferrari has now overtaken Aston Martin in the constructors’ championship standings following the Italian Grand Prix. He emphasized the need for the team to step up their game for upcoming races.
Did Alonso mention anything about scoring in future races?
While Alonso did not specifically talk about future races, he did say that he hopes the team will take “good lessons” from the data and performance at Monza to improve in the next events.
More about Fernando Alonso’s Lackluster Performance at Italian GP
- Fernando Alonso’s Official Profile
- Italian Grand Prix Results
- Aston Martin F1 Team News
- 2023 F1 Season Standings
- In-depth Analysis of AMR23’s Weaknesses
- Previous Race Recap: Zandvoort Grand Prix
- Next Race Preview: Singapore Grand Prix
- Constructors’ Championship Rankings
- Formula 1 Calendar for 2023 Season
- Interview with Fernando Alonso After Italian GP
10 comments
This race felt like a bad movie for Alonso, full of suspense but no payoff at the end.
Can’t believe how honest Alonso was in the post-race. It’s refreshing to see a driver own up to the issues and not just blame bad luck.
Looks like the AMR23 needs some serious upgrades. Cars are like gadgets, always need the latest update to perform best lol.
Fernando always gives it his all, even when the chips are down. You gotta respect that. Looking forward to seeing what he does in Singapore!
Ouch! from 2nd place last week to 9th now? thats gotta hurt. And now Ferrari is ahead? Time to step up, guys!
Finally, someone said it. Aerodynamics is such a big deal in Monza, Alonso’s Aston Martin just couldn’t keep up. Hope they figure stuff out for Singapore.
Alonso still got some fuel in the tank, just needs the right car under him. Aston better sort things out if they wanna keep this legend.
Man, Alonso was really strugglin’ this time huh? Monza just ain’t for every car.
If this race was a song, it’d be a downbeat one for Alonso. Hope the next one’s more like a rock anthem.
If Alonso’s car was a smartphone, I’d say it needs a software update and maybe even a hardware revamp. Just sayin.