Alonso and Sainz: improvements yes, miracles no

questionmacaw Fernando Alonso, HE exaggerates every time Aston Martin gets upgrades, something that has already happened in Japan or especially in Miami. He new nose which this Thursday could be seen for the first time in Imola, installed on the AMR24, seems to be a truly interesting work, distinguished by its stylized tip and top flap with recessed ends, in the shape of gull wing, which caused quite a stir among technical analysts.

Parts included gradually and not in large individual steps, as in 2023. Fernando was responsible for reduce euphoria on the potential impact of this weekend’s improvements. “Is much less than was published in the Spanish media, but I think that could be a good step. We already had a good step in Bahrain, Jeddah, Australia, Japan and a little in Miami,” he recalled.

“In fact, This year we have brought new parts to every race, and here in Imola the situation is no exception. It remains to be seen whether this will provide more processing time than other improvements. We have three practices here that are different from the last two events, so we have plenty of time to really optimize the new package and setup. But I don’t think it’s any different from any other race. Next week we’ll have more updates in Monaco, more in Canada, more in Barcelona and we hope we can close the gap with those above.

“It’s a long race until the end of the year,” Fernando explained in detail.

They always bought time

Fernando explained that this year, every step brings them some help. “For now, We’re simply offering extra performance, with more vehicle load and less vehicle drag. thereby improving lap times. Every time we brought something this year, This correlates with wind tunnel data and all this adds to the dynamics of the car. and that’s good,” he explained in great detail.

“But it’s profit relative. Yeah You contribute half a tenth and the entire network earns two tenths, you are one and a half tenths worse than the previous weekend. This is something we must continue to promote and work on. And like you said, I think the main thing is to be consistent over the course of the season, not much improvement, and then wait a few races. But due to the weaknesses of the car and the balance that we may be facing now, I think this is a more concrete project that is not yet realized.” he talks about the difficulties he faces.

More progress than last year

Alonso suggested paradox it happens according to you. He believes the 2024 car is better than last year’s and that it is improving faster, but the results, a lack of podiums in comparison due to the strength of many rivals, obscure that reality.

As for Aston Martin’s progress as a team, Fernando is convinced. “Yes, 100%. When I see the effort we are making to develop the season, when I see the progress in the wind tunnel since last year, at the end of the year, This is a much better profile. But it is a very difficult environment because we are fighting against top-level teams. which continue to bring updates and started from a better base, so we need to catch up,” he explains.

For Alonso. “Our car is better than last year, our progress is better than last year, but the results are not. because the top four teams are doing an incredible job. We love this challenge too. If we ever want to compete for a world title, we’ll have to go through this. This process, as well as becoming a top team off the track. This year I am more pleased with the progress of the team and the car than last year. If you look at the first six or seven races, it’s hard to explain in terms of results.

but I have full confidence in the team and now I see a good direction,” he says hopefully.

Ferrari, “almost new car”

For Ferrari it’s his first major evolution of the SF-24, and Carlos Sainz also wanted to err on the side of caution and extremely reserved when talking about the new Ferrari package, about which he let slip that “it’s almost a new car.” And it is true. MARCA was in the pit lane yesterday, while the cars were being assembled and we were living, the side of the car was completely modified.

It has inverted side air intakes, Red Bull style and, like this one, the pontoon itself is separated from the chassis to reveal a vertical slot to the floor, through which air flows for the radiators. Real factory work in record time from Bahrain. The floor is also new, as are the cooling pipes on the engine cover. interact directly with the side and focus on the “bobbin wing”. or a second lower wing at the rear, framing the exhaust section.

Theoretically, the time gain should be between two and four tenths, But when Carlos heard this, he jumped and denied an impact of this caliber. “I already told you that There are not four of them, and that the car is new, and that the team has gone through brutal efforts to create a practically new car. but with those minor benefits that exist in Formula 1, when the rules are already very strict, I don’t think anyone is capable of bringing four tenths to the track, so don’t wait that long,” he said with a smile.

Regarding the possibility that there is more places where Red Bull could be at risk,

after the victory Norris In Miami, Carlos is optimistic, but doesn’t ring any bells “I hope so, I hope there are more tracks where we are competitive like in Australia. It’s McLaren’s turn in Miami. and the Australia that we had, but I think by the middle of the season it will become clear that Red Bull is a car that can be beaten on all tracks. Then the McLaren circuit will come, the Ferrari circuit will suddenly show us a bit of a nose, but Red Bull is still the team to beat,” he says. exclusion of the trilateral World Cup here and further

“I think that “The modernization of McLaren was very important, and from what I heard in Miami, they will move very quickly here too.” warned of stiff competition for the podium for Ferrari. In any case, the distance that separates Carlos’s car from the Red Bull is about three to four tenths, so If the improvement is good, he can fight for victory. this weekend.