via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – March 18, 2023 Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso arrives ahead of qualifying REUTERS/Rula Rouhana
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – March 18, 2023 Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso arrives ahead of qualifying REUTERS/Rula Rouhana
El Plan is officially underway. The hunt for the 33rd career win for Fernando Alonso is on, after two consecutive podiums in the opening rounds of the 2023 season. The only thing standing between the Spaniard and him crossing the checkered flag first are the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. And guess what the plan to deal with that is? Sit back and relax.
Yes! That’s precisely the plan. So was the plan in Saudi Arabia for Fernando Alonso and the company, as they didn’t challenge the bulls, apart from their design, at all and went for a secured P3 finish. To claim a higher podium, Aston Martin plans to keep developing, and Alonso hopes that Red Bull messes up its race. So, the plan is to lay back and stay consistent.
via Imago
ALONSO Fernando spa, Aston Martin F1 Team AMR23, portrait VERSTAPPEN Max ned, Red Bull Racing RB19, portrait during the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2023, 1st round of the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship, WM, Weltmeisterschaft from March 2 to 5, 2023 on the Bahrain International Circuit, in Sakhir, Bahrain – F1 – BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2023 – RACE DPPI/Panoramic PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRAxITAxBEL 00123003__R3_1902
The driver’s strategy to win number 33 depends on Red Bull. As quoted by the Race, the two-time world champion said, “We need some help from them. But it will happen eventually when they cannot always finish first and second. One day it’ll be a [botched] pitstop, one day it’s a gearbox. Max had yesterday [a failure] – if he’d had it today, he’d have had to retire the car.”
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“So there’s going to be some circuits where maybe reliability or whatever could help us and hopefully in those races we take the opportunity.”
READ MORE: Why Did Fernando Alonso Return to F1?
As much as we want a win for Alonso, Red Bull‘s DNF is something that would be a miracle. Although the team was close to one in Saudi Arabia, it dealt with it well.
The brilliant prediction of Fernando Alonso in Saudi Arabia
Going into the second round of the season, Max Verstappen started P15 and Fernando Alonso started P2. Given the prowess of the RB19, Alonso was asked to make a prediction as to when the Dutchman would overtake him, and he was right to the last corner!
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After the quali Fernando said that Max will reach him at lap 25 and in the race Max overtook Fernando exactly at lap 25
Nobody reads the race better than Fernando
— Aston Martin F1 updates (@startonpole) March 20, 2023
In a video making rounds on social media, Max Verstappen was told about Alonso’s prediction of his overtake. To which he reacted surprisingly. Nonetheless, it proves that, with almost two decades of experience in F1, there’s no better race reader than Alonso on the grid.
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WATCH THIS STORY: Bromance moments between Max Verstappen & Lewis Hamilton
The mutual respect and admiration between Max and Fernando is immense. The two are known for their aggressive driving and have plenty of similarities in their careers. Let us know in the comments when you think Alonso will get his win. Will it be in Spain? Or his favorite Suzuka?
