Everyone had their doubts when Fernando Alonso switched from Alpine to Aston Martin. But perhaps the Spaniard had some acute foresight, because it has turned out to be an excellent decision. Aston Martin moved fast to secure the services of the double World Champion after Sebastian Vettel’s shock retirement. The quick decision-making and investment in Alonso are already paying dividends, not just limited to the track. The Spaniard is bringing success to Aston Martin on and off the circuit.
Fernando Alonso joined a team that finished at the bottom half of the midfield for two consecutive seasons. However, Aston Martin has made a dream start to the 2023 season, with Alonso securing a podium place in the season opener at Bahrain. This podium has already made Alonso’s mission at Aston Martin a real possibility. While his personal pursuits are on track, the oldest driver on the grid has provided his employer a windfall.
The 41-year-old has amassed $260 million during his 19-year-long career in the premier class. However, as reported by journalist Joe Pompliano, Fernando Alonso has already made his team $300 million richer.
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The Lawrence Stroll-owned company saw a hike of 15% in its market share after the Bahrain GP. According to reports, Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC’s share price rose from 240 to 276.10 GBX.
Aston Martin's stock is up 15% today after Fernando Alonso finished 3rd during this weekend's Bahrain GP.
That means the company has added $300 million to its market cap in just 24 hours🤯 pic.twitter.com/4m2Mjms9vv
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) March 6, 2023
This translates roughly to $300 million in the company’s market cap. The astonishing part is Aston Martin saw this rise in just 24 hours after the Bahrain GP.
Read More: Fernando Alonso Pressure Pushes Aston Martin to Make Big F1 Promise: “We Need to Be Prepared”
One can definitely credit this monetary rise to Fernando Alonso and his performance over the entire weekend. Although after the successful opening race, the constructor will still remain cautious during the entire season and won’t take this start for granted.
Despite a brilliant start from Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin’s boss errs on caution
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The Bahrain GP has showcased that Aston Martin has taken a leap from the bottom half to the top half of the grid. However, the team is not getting ahead of themselves and will continue to keep their head down.
Team boss Mike Krack’s conversation with Motorsport suggests as much. He said, “I think Fernando said it earlier. ‘There are no miracles in F1’. These dynamics that you can sometimes get. Like someone says, it’s good, and it’s very good. It’s like when the word goes around the children at school. So I think we need to keep our feet on the ground.”
There will be a celebration in the Aston Martin garage. However, the team will be ready to prove Bahrain wasn’t a fluke when the F1 season resumes in Saudi Arabia.
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