Fernando Alonso is embarking on his second season with Aston Martin in 2024. The boss of Aston Martin Formula 1, Mike Krack, has hinted that the team has some exciting developments planned for their 2024 car. Last season, Aston Martin emerged as a strong competitor, securing six podium finishes in the first eight races. However, their progress was hindered by a series of setbacks, causing them to drop from second to fifth place in the championship. Aston Martin’s Technical Director, Dan Fallows, revealed that their goal for the 2024 car is to establish a solid foundation to avoid a similar decline. Krack, speaking after pre-season testing in Bahrain, expressed his confidence in Aston Martin’s progress and their upcoming updates to the AMR24 charger. He stated that the team has made gains and improvements in key areas, and they have several promising projects in the works. Krack acknowledged the fierce competition in the upcoming season but expressed excitement for what lies ahead.
Fernando Alonso, who achieved eight podium finishes in his debut season with Aston Martin, describes the 2024 car as a step forward. However, he recognizes that true performance can only be determined in the actual races, rather than during testing. Alonso emphasized that they have focused on learning and improving during the test sessions. He expressed his anticipation to see how much progress they have made compared to their competitors after the qualifying sessions. Alonso completed a significant number of laps during the three-day test and feels prepared for the start of the new season.
In contrast, Lance Stroll is relieved to have a smooth pre-season after his preparations were disrupted last year due to a cycling accident that resulted in both of his wrists being broken. Stroll expressed his gratitude for the valuable time spent in the car during testing. He mentioned that they have been gathering data and learning about the AMR24 with every lap completed. Stroll highlighted that they have been able to test various parts and setups without encountering any reliability issues. While it is still too early to make predictions, Stroll is eagerly looking forward to the first race of the year.