Fernando Alonso promises F1 fans a Max Verstappen fight within weeks

07 May 2023 , 22:43

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Max Verstappen won the Miami GP with Sergio Perez second ahead of Fernando Alonso (Image: Getty Images)

Fernando Alonso is not satisfied with four podiums from five races – and is eyeing a Red Bull challenge within the next few races.

The result of the Miami Grand Prix was hardly a surprising one. Sergio Perez started on pole, but Max Verstappen was perfect throughout the entire race to the point not even his team-mate could stop him from charging to victory.

The fact Alonso finished third behind them was hardly a shock either. The Azerbaijan race last weekend remains the only one so far this year at the end of which the 41-year-old has not collected a trophy.

"The car is amazing," he gushed with a grin after the Miami race. "It was a lonely race, nothing to do in front of us with the Red Bulls and nothing behind us. The Ferraris were a little bit worse than expected today. Not easy, it's never easy, but a lonely race."

It has been many years since Alonso was regularly standing on the podium, but already he is bored of it and wants more. "We take the podium and go into the triple Imola, Monaco and Barcelona where we hope to keep on going," he added.

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"At the beginning of the year a podium was amazing. Now, with four podiums, we obviously want more. At least a second place! But the Red Bulls are always unbreakable and super fast. Maybe Monaco, Maybe Barcelona, we will have a possibility."

A delighted Alonso is predicting even bigger things for Aston Martin (Getty Images)

Later speaking to Sky Sports, Alonso admitted catching the Red Bulls will be a tall order, but the progress his Aston Martin team has continued to make gives him hope. The Spaniard added: "At the moment it is hard to keep them behind.

"I was hoping he would have a DRS train in front of him, but he was just making moves one after the other and the guys in front were not in the DRS either. It was a little bit too easy for him. Next time we will try between all of us to make it a little more difficult.

"It has been much better than expected. We have been to a few circuits now with different layouts and characteristics, better weekends and worst weekends. This one was quite tricky because we started off the pace and we only went back in the game in qualifying.

"I think the team is just growing in every area and we are stronger and stronger. It feels good."

Daniel Moxon