Alonso is currently considering whether or not he wants to stay in F1 beyond the end of this year when his current contract expires.
He says his priority is to stay with Aston Martin, but he has also been linked with potential drivers at Red Bull and Mercedes if certain scenarios arise.
MORE: Suzuka sensation bought out Alonso, but his F1 future is complicated
While the Spaniard said he has been more than happy with the team since joining Aston Martin at the start of 2023, the team has been battling in the middle of the chasing pack behind Red Bull this year rather than on your mind. It was for a while last season.
This has left team principal Mike Krack convinced that the Silverstone-based team must up their game and move up the grid if they are to ensure Alonso wants to stay.
“We need to add more, we definitely need to add more,” Krack said. “But I think if he can fight and not be in the middle of nowhere, that’s already a first step. And then we won’t stop.
“We will bring pieces throughout the season to keep him motivated and happy at Aston Martin.”
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 team
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Aston Martin is coming off an encouraging performance at the Japanese GP, where Alonso had what he said was one of the best weekends of his career to take his car ahead of the Mercedes cars and the McLaren of Oscar Piastri .
And given the Suzuka track’s emphasis on tire degradation, like the season opener in Bahrain, where Aston Martin struggled, that left Krack optimistic about the way things are going. are taking place at the moment.
“I think we can agree that we were not in no man’s land and that is positive,” he added. “Here, with the strong degradation… we seem to be in the peloton. We were ahead of the Mercedes. So that’s very encouraging.”
“But again, it’s just a data point. Bahrain is easier to overtake than here, but we were never really threatened, let’s put it that way. So let’s see. We need to confirm during the next races.”
Asked if he agreed with Alonso’s verdict that the team had outperformed in Japan, Krack replied: “Yes. I tend to agree. Because when you look Looking back, taking the first five races as a benchmark, we were, on average, the fifth fastest team, and maybe fourth at times.
“That means you are fighting for seventh to tenth place. [positions], Normally. When you don’t have fast cars and you finish in front of them, I think you have to agree with that statement.”
Alonso is currently considering whether or not he wants to stay in F1 beyond the end of this year when his current contract expires.
He says his priority is to stay with Aston Martin, but he has also been linked with potential drivers at Red Bull and Mercedes if certain scenarios arise.
MORE: Suzuka sensation bought out Alonso, but his F1 future is complicated
While the Spaniard said he has been more than happy with the team since joining Aston Martin at the start of 2023, the team has been battling in the middle of the chasing pack behind Red Bull this year rather than on your mind. It was for a while last season.
This has left team principal Mike Krack convinced that the Silverstone-based team must up their game and move up the grid if they are to ensure Alonso wants to stay.
“We need to add more, we definitely need to add more,” Krack said. “But I think if he can fight and not be in the middle of nowhere, that’s already a first step. And then we won’t stop.
“We will bring pieces throughout the season to keep him motivated and happy at Aston Martin.”
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 team
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Aston Martin is coming off an encouraging performance at the Japanese GP, where Alonso had what he said was one of the best weekends of his career to take his car ahead of the Mercedes cars and the McLaren of Oscar Piastri .
And given the Suzuka track’s emphasis on tire degradation, like the season opener in Bahrain, where Aston Martin struggled, that left Krack optimistic about the way things are going. are taking place at the moment.
“I think we can agree that we were not in no man’s land and that is positive,” he added. “Here, with the strong degradation… we seem to be in the peloton. We were ahead of the Mercedes. So that’s very encouraging.”
“But again, it’s just a data point. Bahrain is easier to overtake than here, but we were never really threatened, let’s put it that way. So let’s see. We need to confirm during the next races.”
Asked if he agreed with Alonso’s verdict that the team had outperformed in Japan, Krack replied: “Yes. I tend to agree. Because when you look Looking back, taking the first five races as a benchmark, we were, on average, the fifth fastest team, and maybe fourth at times.
“That means you are fighting for seventh to tenth place. [positions], Normally. When you don’t have fast cars and you finish in front of them, I think you have to agree with that statement.”