All the teams, at least in the first 2 days of pre-season testing in Sakhir, Bahrain, were rather cautious in commenting on their performances and making predictions about the season. But not Fernando Alonso.
Red Bull Racing will also start in 2024 with the underdogs. In 2023 it won all the races except one, and in this new season it presented itself at the starting gates not with an evolution of the dominant RB19, but with a real revolution.
Revolutions don't always give the desired results, but according to the Aston Martin driver – who took on the role of the pessimistic and realist George Russell of 2023 – things are already quite clear. Red Bull and Max Verstappen will start ahead of everyone for what they have achieved, not for the track position gained thanks to the sensational performances in 2023.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“I think Max is the world champion and Red Bull is dominating this sport. Also, the concept they presented this year is a surprise. At the moment, we just have to watch them and see how they perform. I think 19 drivers in the paddock will now think that [non] they will win the championship. It happens 99% of the time in your career. This is a brutal sport.”
Aston Martin has hinted on several occasions that it wants to try to win at least one race this season. Fernando said he doesn't know if the AMR24 will be able to achieve this goal, but he is certain that Red Bull's superiority will make the task very difficult not only for the team based in Silverstone, but also for all the others. In short, a carbon copy of 2023.
“I don't know if Aston Martin has a winning car. It's difficult to say now. However, I would say that after seeing Max and this year's Red Bull there is less chance for everyone to win a race this year. Things are like this”, concluded the Asturian.
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