Fernando Alonso Holds Hope for Aston Martin Despite Struggles

• F1

In the highly competitive world of Formula 1, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso acknowledges that his current ranking - hovering around ninth or tenth place - reflects the current reality of his team, Aston Martin. However, he remains steadfast in his belief that with time, the car's performance will improve.

Alonso's Season: From Podiums to Pains

Fernando Alonso started the season on a high note, stepping onto the podium six times in the first eight races. He still holds a respectable third place in the overall standings. But over the last three races, his prospects have waned, culminating in a ninth-place finish in Hungary.

"Ninth and 10th was the maximum, but obviously not the best in terms of results," Alonso reflected, referring to his performance in Hungary. His competition - the teams of McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull - pulled ahead, highlighting the growing gap between Alonso's Aston Martin and the leading pack.

He added, "We need to see how to improve into next week at Spa, another opportunity."

Looking Forward: More Upgrades and Better Grip

Despite the recent setbacks, Alonso is far from throwing in the towel. When asked if he would be pushing the team for more upgrades as the campaign develops, he responded affirmatively, underscoring the need for improved grip in upcoming races.

"Yeah, more grip. From now on, different circuits [are] coming, hopefully better [suited] to our car," Alonso said. "At the moment we are struggling a little bit in the last few races, so [it will be] maximum focus, head down and try to understand why," he added, outlining his plan for regaining lost ground.

Thus far, Alonso has amassed 139 points this season, placing him six points ahead of Lewis Hamilton and 49 points ahead of George Russell, who holds fifth place. However, the Red Bull duo, Sergio Perez and the seemingly untouchable Max Verstappen, have opened up a considerable lead with 171 and 281 points, respectively.