Social media was awash with tales in latest days about Alonso both switching to Crimson Bull or being poised for retirement. This was triggered by Spanish TV journalist Albert Fabrega posting a cryptic tweet hinting at a giant story creating within the paddock.
Whereas Fabrega by no means specified what matter the hearsay was about, it unleashed a frenzy that it was a few large shake-up within the driver market involving Alonso.
However whereas discuss of the double world champion racing anyplace else aside from Aston Martin subsequent yr has been totally dismissed, Alonso made clear forward of the Brazilian Grand Prix that he was unimpressed with the wild hypothesis.
“It’s simply rumours, regular paddock rumours, from folks which might be simply attempting to make enjoyable of it and achieve some followers, and these sorts of issues,” he stated when requested in regards to the scenario.
“However I am not into that recreation.”
Alonso declared that he felt the actions of some in spreading the hypothesis weren’t right, as he advised a media briefing that he took a dim view of what had occurred.
“I’m not having fun with [it] as a result of even on this room, I recognize that each one of you’re journalists, skilled folks, which were in F1 for thus a few years,” he stated.
“You achieve your respect, and that is the way it needs to be. So, all of the rumours are coming from folks that aren’t on this room, are simply right here to make enjoyable and I believe it is not humorous after they play with something.”
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR23
What Alonso defined he was notably sad about was that the hyperlinks with Crimson Bull, or that he was dropping religion within the Aston Martin challenge, may immediate some to query his loyalty.
“After all, that is the factor that they’re making, however I’ll guarantee that there are penalties,” he stated, though he declined to elaborate on precisely what he meant by this.
No one pleased with present type
Whereas Aston Martin goes via a tough patch in the intervening time, having confronted its fair proportion of difficulties since an improve arrived at america GP, Alonso stated that it was necessary to recollect the larger image of the progress made by the staff this yr.
“We’re clearly not as aggressive as we would like it,” he stated. “And all of us attempt to get to our greatest stage, which is clearly not the one which we’re exhibiting now.
“However we’re analysing a number of the upgrades that we introduced currently. Right here in Brazil, we have now a dash format, so possibly it’s a extra conventional weekend for us, not experimenting as a lot because the final two.
“Clearly, we aren’t comfortable. Mike [Krack] shouldn’t be comfortable, nobody is pleased with the present type.
“However on the similar time, I stated a number of races in the past, this staff was 250 folks two years in the past, now we’re on this transition to be hopefully a contender for the long run with 800 folks, and a brand new manufacturing unit.
“Seven podiums this yr, 200 factors greater than final yr, all these sorts of issues which aren’t the present type.
“We shouldn’t be comfortable, however we can’t even be too dramatic in regards to the scenario when this 2023 marketing campaign has been an excellent season for us.”
Further reporting by Adam Cooper