“Expectations Were Exceeded”: Fernando Alonso Locked In With $300K Gift From Aston Martin

As the madness of the silly season of both drivers and team principals has settled down, things are moving ahead for everyone as they strive to build strong relationships among themselves. And while each team has a way of making its drivers feel warm and welcomed, Aston Martin has raised the bar for other constructors to match with its gift to Fernando Alonso.

Aston Martin presented its two-time champion and senior driver, Fernando Alonso, with a whopping $300,000 worth of luxurious SUV, Aston Martin DBX 707, as he comes in 2023 to replace Sebastian Vettel alongside Lance Stroll.

Alonso himself shared the news on Twitter, where he wrote, “Expectations were exceeded. Dream car 😍.” The gifted car boasts 697 hp and a top speed of 196 mph and packs a four-liter twin-turbo Mercedes V8 engine. 

The gift has established the early stage dynamics between the two parties as Aston Martin looks towards future with optimism. Its boss has praised Alonso on more than one occasion, while the driver too expressed his confidence in the team after driving in post-season training. As per the Express, he said, “I was 90 percent happy, [then] when they started improving and they finished the season on a high I was 100 percent. This morning, I was 100 percent plus.”

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The signing of Alonso has been big for Aston Martin as it aims to develop a competitive car after a season full of underwhelming performances. With the Spaniard coming in the place of Sebastian Vettel, the team looks to learn as much as they can from his experiences.

Aston Martin hypes Fernando Alonso for igniting spark

2022 was severely disappointing for Aston Martin. The AMR 22 could only secure seventh place in the constructors’ championship, with no podium finishes in 22 races. Nevertheless, they managed to improve in the later stages of the season, which enshrined Alonso’s trust in them and prompting the team to push the development further.

The Spaniard has also built trust with the team early on, as Mike Krack, the team principal, hyped the 41-year-old. He said, “If you have someone with this passion and drive to win, I think it has an impact on the team, and we could clearly see that.

“Everybody was really happy to have this guy in the car last Tuesday, so I think he ignited another spark that, from his own passion and desire to win, onto the team.”

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How do you think the partnership between the two will fare? Can Alonso get the team moving up on the grid? Will he adjust well with Stroll? Time will tell.