“Don’t worry, everyone. Better weekends are ahead”, Fernando Alonso told the Aston Martin team after a seventh-place finish at Silverstone, just meters from the team’s headquarters in the United Kingdom.
Intimacy can mask the truth, but the British Grand Prix went to McLaren and Lando Norris, with Norris second. Lewis Hamilton also closed the gap to Alonso, trimming the Spaniard’s lead to 16 points in the standings.
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Asturian driver’s stance reflects an effort to manage the emotional dip that arrived as rival teams rose in the standings, with McLaren and Williams pushing hard and Mercedes occupying second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
The drop came after Lance Stroll’s struggles, which Alonso tried to compensate with a string of podiums. Beyond this standout performance, the Spaniard’s 33rd victory was a moment of jubilant vindication for fans.
Strive to be the best of mortals
The early burst of victory also faded for natural reasons. Aston Martin’s main objective has long been clear: maintain competitiveness behind Red Bull and other top teams.
Even the championship leader, with a substantial gap over Mercedes and Aston Martin, watched rivals close the distance. For now, no one has toppled Verstappen, with Sergio Pérez widely anticipated as the only challenger in some races.
But Pérez has not matched the regularity of the season’s frontrunner. At Silverstone, he faced a comeback needed after an incident. This season has delivered plenty of drama, even without Verstappen dominating every race.
Alonso’s high self-esteem and ’33’
Recent improvements in the program have altered the dynamics, but Aston Martin has yet to translate those gains into the same level of performance as rivals like McLaren. The AMR23’s advantages have not been fully realized on every track, dampening some expectations.
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“We finished seventh. Probably better than what we had. Well done. Thanks, team”, Alonso told his teammates. The early momentum was clear as the team made a significant leap forward in a matter of months.
The durability of the Aston Martin remains under scrutiny. After a setback in Barcelona, Alonso climbed to second in Montreal. He reached the podium in Australia and Great Britain, underscoring a competitive spirit even amid fluctuating results.
Good working environment at Aston Martin
Inside the Silverstone-based squad, a strong working atmosphere and close collaboration across departments helped counter a tougher winter. The Spaniard anticipated a strong result in Hungary, where the Hungaroring’s layout could suit the AMR23’s strengths.
“I’m not focused on car development alone. We will fight until the end against Mercedes and Ferrari”, Alonso noted. After the British GP, the team’s director reinforced the message that progress is ongoing: “This weekend we focused on damage control. We weren’t the strongest, but we earned more points than Ferrari.”
Comparisons with Scuderia Ferrari remain meaningful. A contrast between Spaniards and Leclerc persists, with strategy differences in play that neither side can fully control.
The Cavallino pair endured a tough moment at Silverstone, leaving both cars without points for the first time this season since Australia. Sainz feels unsettled within his own team, while Leclerc faces the tension that comes with high expectations. A lighthearted remark about overtaking followed as Sainz passed Leclerc on a Q2 prep lap at Silverstone.
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Hungary, a circuit for a return to the old ways
From a calm base, Alonso sees a path to challenge. The Hungarian Grand Prix offers a fast and narrow setup where top speed matters less and traction and corner entry become decisive for the AMR23’s progress.
Looking ahead, the Belgian GP awaits, with Aston Martin likely to push again against the current. Across the remaining 12 races, tracks like Zandvoort and the Singapore street circuit could prove pivotal in Alonso’s pursuit of a coveted ‘33,’ challenging Verstappen while aiming to keep rivals at bay.
The Dutch star’s pace remains elusive for many rivals, with flashes of brilliance sometimes met by missteps. Yet the season’s narrative is rich with drama and ambition as Alonso and his team push to convert potential into consistent results on the calendar ahead.