24 November 2023 , 11:46
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Aston Martin hope to tie veteran Formula 1 star Fernando Alonso down to a new contract.
The Spaniard is 42 and will be another year older by the time his current deal expires at the end of next season. But he is still fit, firing and has the desire to continue to compete at the highest level despite his age.
Thought Aston Martin have faded as the season went on, Alonso has had a stellar campaign in 2023. Eight podium finishes have guaranteed that he will finish ahead of George Russell in the championship while fourth place overall remains possible.
Having watched Alonso lead his team's charge this year, Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack is clearly keen for their partnership to continue. Asked at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix if the team hopes to secure his longer-term future, he told reporters: "Yes."
Alonso had hoped for improved fortunes with Aston Martin after making the switch from Alpine for this season. But even he did not imagine how competitive the team would be at the beginning of the season when they were the closest competitors to runaway leaders Red Bull.
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And even though podiums and big points have become more scarce as the season has progressed, the Spaniard has still been delighted with his decision to move. "I'm happy with the personal performance," he told reporters when reflecting on the year.
"I think, together with 2012, [this] is the best season for me personally. I rate the best season in my driving and I was happy with everything. I was motivated, I was fit, I was performing in difficult conditions sometimes.
"Bahrain, Monaco, Canada, Monza and Brazil would be my top five [races] of the year. I put Monza on purpose because it was a ninth place. It was not a podium, it was nothing that people will remember, but probably we had the slowest car in Monza or the second slowest and to be in the points was one of those weekends where everything was very good.
"I see only positives. I think those struggles are part of the job and part of the journey of this team. We started really strong with the car that was surprisingly maybe competitive even to us, the step from last year to this year. And we found ourselves maybe in a position where we weren't ready for it, fighting with Mercedes, Ferrari - top teams they are used to fight at that level.
"We maybe step back a little bit in terms of development also in the car during the season. We are not at the top level yet and we found ourselves a little bit less competitive. But all in all, I think it was unthinkable 12 months ago at this stage to think about the campaign we did. I remember perfectly the test last year after the race here with the team. And if someone tell me we would be in the position we are today I would not believe it, so yeah very good."