With Stunned Eyes on Podium Streak, Fernando Alonso’s Dynamic Traits Named as Key for Aston Martin Turnaround: “Exactly the Same”

The entire F1 community was stunned when Fernando Alonso chose to sign a backfield team last year. Aston Martin was placed at P7 last year with only 55 points and this year so far just in the five races the team has bagged 102 points. However, the team’s credit for emerging as a “Dark Horse” with its sights set on podium streaks this season has been attributed to Fernando Alonso’s dynamic traits.

The Spaniard, who won two championships with Renault in 2005 and 2006, was in the midst of a professional downturn. He continued to drive well, but he lacked the equipment necessary to compete at the top level. However, Fernando Alonso has excelled since the start of this year. The 41-year-old is defying age laws by winning podiums back-to-back in such advanced years. Alonso has four podium finishes in the first five races, except Azerbaijan.

Fernando Alonso has received praise for his track prowess from Juan Pablo Montoya, a former Formula One driver. The Spaniard, in Montoya’s opinion, has had tremendous form each season, but this year he was able to get into a lightning-fast car, which gave him the opportunity to finish on the podium.

According to Montoya, who spoke with Motorsport Netherlands, he said, “Fernando is funny, everyone talks about it these days, but I think he is still riding exactly the same as in previous years. Now, of course, he only has one much better car, that’s all the difference.”

While adding further about the dynamic traits of the 41-year-old, Montoya said, “What he does really well is knowing how to get the whole team to support him, even now at Aston Martin.”

READ MORE: To Fulfill Lawrence Stroll’s Tall Ambitions, Fernando Alonso & Co. Look To Circumvent Their Achilles’ Heel at Target Tracks

Throughout his 20-year career, Alonso has been a part of numerous teams. And as time went on, he continued to show his villainous side. However, now that the 41-year-old is enjoying his time at Aston Martin and is a valuable asset to the sport, a 1996 champion has clarified the true reason why it happened.

What made Fernando Alonso leave behind the bad guy image?

The Spanish driver began his second stint in the sport with McLaren. He joined the Woking-based camp in 2015 when they partnered with Honda. The collaboration, however, turned out to be a total failure, and the Collab was shut down in 2017. The bad relationship led the 41-year-old quit the team in 2018. After his unsuccessful time with Honda, Alonso famously remarked, “It feels like GP2. Embarrassing. Very embarrassing.” 

Now, 1996 champion Damon Hill thinks that the Spaniard’s remarks negatively harmed his relationships with a number of teams. While talking to the F1 Nation podcast, Hill said, “He overplayed his hand at McLaren, and then he did something similar at Ferrari. He insulted Honda because he called it a GP2 engine, he lost a lot of friends. I think he’s had an epiphany.”

Adding that he has shed the bad guy image after realizing that he has hurt a number of individuals, Hill added, “A bit of a turnaround, he’s come back and gone ‘Listen, okay, I get it now I’ve upset people. It’s hurt my career, I’ve only got two world championships when I should have four or five’.”

While at Aston Martin in 2023, Hill believes that Fernando Alonso is enjoying the atmosphere and, “He’s on his best behaviour.” While adding further the 1996 champion said, “Or maybe he’s a changed man. I like to think it’s the latter, I think he has changed, matured and became a massive asset to the sport.”

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After displaying their skills in the first five races, do you believe Fernando Alonso and Co. can stretch their reach from podiums to victories?