When David Coulthard asked him on the most recent episode of the Formula for Success podcast which drivers he would like to see get an F1 race seat, Jordan replied Liam Lawson and Felipe Drugovich. Jordan stated that several F1 fans may know of Lawson after the New Zealander’s impressive cameo with AlphaTauri in the last campaign.

Jordan believes that Drugovich is arguably one of the best drivers without a race seat at the moment. Jordan then added,

“When you consider what he (Drugovich) did. He has won the Formula 2 championship by an absolute mile. Even a bigger gap than what Oscar did. And so I am absolutely certain, he may even be my number one choice“.

Piastri won the F2 championship by 60.5 points from second-placed Robert Shwartzman in 2021. Meanwhile, Drugovich won the 2022 F2 title by a whopping 101 points from Théo Pourchaire, who himself went on to win the championship in 2023.

After hailing Drugovich, Jordan concluded his remarks by stating that if Aston Martin do not see him in their long-term plans, then they should”sell him off to Ferrari” and earn millions in the process. One reason why Jordan believes that Drugovich would fit well with Ferrari is because of the 23-year-old‘s Italian background.

Felipe Drugovich one of many talents available in driver’s market

Felipe Drugovich is one of the many talents currently available in the driver market. Some other names include the likes of 2023 F2 champion Theo Pourchaire and Frederik Vesti. Despite such talented drivers being available, all 10 F1 teams decided to stick to their line-ups for the coming season.

As it turns out, 2024 is also the only year in history when no rookie will compete in an F1 season. Current McLaren driver Oscar Piastri also faced immense difficulties before he finally landed a race seat in F1. After winning the F2 championship in 2021, the Australian had to spend the entirety of 2022 as only a test driver for Alpine.

Since Piastri, who arguably had one of the best rookie seasons last year, also found it so difficult to get a race seat, it only suggests that teams are hesitant to give inexperienced drivers a chance.

For example, Red Bull decided to stick with Sergio Perez (285) for 2024 even though the Mexican scored less than half the points as compared to his teammate, Max Verstappen (575). Similarly, Williams decided to stick with Logan Sargeant, who managed just one point as compared to teammate Alex Albon’s 27.

The post “Sell Him Off to Ferrari”: Ex Team Boss Plots Plan for Aston Martin to Make Millions off Brazilian Driver appeared first on The SportsRush.

As per Auto Motor und Sport, the 42-year-old stressed on improving the AMR24 in three key areas. He demanded more top speed, better balance, and a more stable aerodynamic package in the higher-speed corners. All of this was a result of Alonso’s assessment of the flaws of the AMR23 – with which he bagged eight podiums last season.

“If I had any doubts about it, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep peacefully for the last two months.”

Alonso wanted the engineering department to produce a car with better top speed, more stable downforce in high-speed corners and more balance. Especially in the second half….

— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) February 15, 2024

And from what he has seen, from his time in the simulator as well as discussions with his engineers, the two-time world champion is confident about the work done. He said, “If I had any doubts about it, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep peacefully for the last two months.”

After a pretty spectacular start of the campaign last year, Aston Martin lagged back in the developmental race mid-season. However, a podium at the Dutch Grand Prix and at Interlagos signaled a steady revival from their slump. Naturally, the momentum is on their side as they gear up to mount a potential title challenge in 2024.

Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin future hangs in the balance despite 2024 optimism

At the age of 42, even Fernando Alonso acknowledges that his days at the very pinnacle of motorsport are numbered. Hence, if Aston Martin cannot show tangible progress from the midfield to the front of the grid in 2024, the Spaniard may consider alternate options.

With Lewis Hamilton committing himself to Ferrari for 2025, a vacuum has been left at Mercedes. The two-time world champion is being touted as a serious contender for that Mercedes seat in 2025. As a result, Aston Martin need to ensure that they can provide Alonso with a race-winning car in 2025.

“I have the luck that I can choose.”

Fernando Alonso responds to claims he could replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes #BBCF1 pic.twitter.com/HIMsdkGxEf

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 12, 2024

This is because Alonso’s Aston Martin contract is also due to expire at the end of this season. That being said, team principal Mike Krack is confident that he is going to be in business with Alonso for the foreseeable future.

Speedweek.com quoted Krack as saying, “He (Alonso) is an integral part of this team. We have a relationship based on trust and openness. We would honestly love to work with Fernando in 2025 and beyond.”

While Aston Martin will be keen to impress Alonso, the Spaniard will have a clear set of objectives to accomplish in 2024. Firstly, he would be vying to bag that elusive 33rd win soon and if possible, be the man to dethrone Max Verstappen as the reigning world champion.

The post Fernando Alonso’s ‘Peaceful Sleep’ Vouches for Aston Martin’s New Found Caliber to beat Red Bull appeared first on The SportsRush.

“Almost every area of the car has been refined and improved, building on our strengths, and taking on board the lessons of the previous campaign. 2023 was our best season to date and our goal this season is to score regular points, podiums, and fight for our first win in green.”, said Krack, as quoted by PlanetF1.

Krack claimed 2023 was the team’s best season, and their goal is to improve on that. Aided by Fernando Alonso, the British team finished P5 in the constructors’ championship with 280 points. They secured eight podium finishes, all of which came because of Alonso.

Lance Stroll also addressed the media, as he called his team “young.” He added they were growing fast, and there was a “hunger and belief” within the team to keep growing.

Say hello to the @AstonMartinF1 AMR24 #F1 pic.twitter.com/tz8xgoFB4u

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 12, 2024

The AMR24 is much lighter than its predecessor. It is also more aerodynamically efficient, allowing the car to be much more competitive. These changes come with the team’s need to remain competitive with the likes of Red Bull, who have an edge over the rest of the field owing to the genius of Adrian Newey.

Aston Martin Technical Director shines more light on their approach to the AMR24

Aston Martin‘s Technical Director, Dan Fallows, was also in the mix of those who addressed the media. He talked about how, even with stable regulations, there were possibilities to refine the car. Unlike last season, the team wants to keep up in the development race, and the AMR24’s design will allow them to do just that.

Dan Fallows, Technical Director explains how the team approached the AMR24: Even with the stable regulations, there are endless possibilities for refinement. pic.twitter.com/2MR5YYtH93

— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) February 12, 2024

Apart from the car’s design flexibility, Fallows added it has a broad operating window. “We have focused more on versatility for a wider range of specific circuit characteristics”, he said. It will allow the car to be more of an ‘all-rounder.’ With a wide variety of tracks on the calendar, Aston Martin hopes the car can sustain a season-long challenge.

The post Aston Martin F1 Car Launch: Team Boss Reveals Majority of the 2024 Challenger Is New appeared first on The SportsRush.

Prost, who served as the non-executive director of the Enstone-based team back then, was anxious about Alonso’s return. Even though Alonso had won both his championships with the team in 2005 and 2006, his second stint with the team (2008-2009) had an acrimonious end.

Hence, a third time could’ve proved fatal, as per Prost. But the 42-year-old’s maturity pleasantly surprised him. Prost told Motorsport Magazine (as quoted by Motorsportweek.com), “I was very worried before he came, but he surprised me positively. He was very good, no problems and no political play.”

Alain Prost is saddened by situation at Alpine and slams Rossi’s incompetence

“If you look back to when Renault was successful, you’ll find one man, Flavio Briatore, and a legendary driver, Fernando Alonso, supported by the management” pic.twitter.com/yEl4e6ntnv

— Aston Martin F1 updates (@startonpole) July 28, 2023

The ex-McLaren driver was very impressed with the professionalism that Alonso showcased on his return to the sport and the team. Alonso impressed Prost with his attitude “not only on the track but also off the track”.

However, that relationship did not last too long. Prost departed Alpine in 2021, whereas Alonso himself left the team for Aston Martin in 2023. The Spaniard alleged a lack of professionalism with Alpine, owing to their delayed contract extension process.

Fernando Alonso made a sensational switch to Aston Martin in 2023

As the 2022 summer break approached, Fernando Alonso was quite keen to sign a contract extension with Alpine. However, he blamed a lack of professionalism on their end to retain his services, and as a result, he chose to leave.

On the flip side, Aston Martin, led by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, quickly got the paperwork done and poached Alonso away from Alpine. Alonso made contact with Lawrence Stroll after Sebastian Vettel had announced his retirement in July 2022. Alonso revealed that Stroll was very quick to convince him about the project and entice him with a contract.

Last 18 months for Alpine:

-> Budkowski fired
-> Prost leaves the team
-> Szafnauer joins
-> Piastri leaves for McLaren
-> Alonso leaves for Aston
-> Rossi loses CEO title
-> Szafnauer fired
-> Permane fired

— Jaden (@JadenFR_) July 28, 2023

Many paddock experts termed Alonso’s move as a career suicide. In 2022, Aston Martin had an extremely slow car and finished seventh in the Constructors’ championship. However, 2023 came as a surprise to everyone. Alonso ended up with eight podiums and a P5 for the team in the Constructors’ standings.

The post Alain Prost Claims He Was Surprised When Fernando Alonso Returned to Sport Without “Problems and Political Play” appeared first on The SportsRush.

When asked about the same on the most recent episode of the Talking Bulls podcast, Newey replied, “We were working with a partner (Aston Martin), which can bring its frustrations. So, I think we all thought collectively that it would be great to do our own car and be a pure Red Bull“.

Red Bull indeed worked tirelessly to get the Valkyrie project up and running. However, the project was not short of its controversies. Aston Martin faced a whopping $190,000,000 lawsuit while undertaking this project.

The team had initially tried to secure the finances by partnering with Nebula Project AG. However, since Lawrence Stroll backed out, Aston Martin faced several lawsuits.

Since Aston Martin was Red Bull’s partner, the Milton Keynes-based team also faced the brunt of the troubles. Hence, Red Bull ultimately decided to go their own way and produce their $6.2 million worth of hypercar, the RB17. Since Red Bull’s hypercar is one of a kind, the company has decided to sell only 50 units to maximize revenue.

As for the Valkyrie, the project was still a success despite all the chaos surrounding it. After all, Aston Martin has decided to field the Valkyrie in the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans event.

Aston Martin’s Valkyrie will compete in endurance racing

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is arguably the biggest endurance race that takes place in the world. Hence, for Aston Martin, it will be an honor to field their Valkyrie hypercar in this event and have a chance to fight for victory.

However, Aston Martin’s plans for the Valkyrie do not just stop at Le Mans. As per their press release, they will also field their Valkyrie in the FIA World Endurance Championship [WEC] and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championships starting in 2025.

Lawrence Stroll, the executive chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda, expressed how happy he was to make this announcement back in October last year. The Canadian businessman said,

“We have been present at Le Mans since the earliest days, and through those glorious endeavors we succeeded in winning Le Mans in 1959 and our class 19 times over the past 95 years. Now we return to the scene of those first triumphs aiming to write new history with a racing prototype inspired by the fastest production car Aston Martin has ever built“.

The hype for the Valkyrie increased all the more after three-time F1 champion Max Verstappen also drove it. Although the Dutchman did get in trouble with the police on one occasion while driving the hypercar, the ease with which he drove it certainly seemed to impress the fans.

Hence, there is no doubt that the Valkyrie project ended up being a huge success despite all the controversies that took place earlier. While Aston Martin has big plans moving forward with their hypercar, they need to be wary of their former partner, Red Bull. There is a chance that the Milton Keynes-based outfit could field their RB17 to battle the Valkyrie in one of the upcoming endurance championship races.

The post ‘Frustrated’ by Aston Martin, Adrian Newey and Co Decided to Go for Their $6.2 Million Project appeared first on The SportsRush.

In the modern era, very strict testing restrictions are in place. Hence, the drivers don’t really get to break into their new cars before the official pre-season testing begins in February. That’s why, it isn’t uncommon to see the drivers put in countless laps on the simulators to get accustomed with their machinery.

Locked in. No distractions.#AMR24 pic.twitter.com/QaVyWpc64N

— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) January 18, 2024

The 42-year-old himself explained the importance of having simulator sessions in the winter-break building up to the start of the new season. Formule1.nl quoted him as saying,

“The simulator is a very important tool in Formula 1 nowadays. We therefore have a very realistic car. This way we can try out things that only exist as an idea before we actually develop them. The simulator is so precise and so realistic that you can really feel everything, for example the tire pressure or the vibrations when you drive over the curbs.”

And so, as Alonso got his first few laps in on the new car, he had one stabbing revelation to make. As it turns out, in certain load conditions, in the higher gears, the steering of the latest Aston Martin car feels heavier to him than usual. However, he is comfortable getting used to it and is optimistic about this year as he claimed, “2023 was a great year. 2024 will be even better.”

After rollercoaster 2023, Aston Martin and Fernando Alonso optimistic about 2024

The 2023 season started off with an unexpected bang at the Sakhir International Circuit in Bahrain. While many expected the AMR23 to be fast, no one expected Alonso to put the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes to shame as he clinched a surprise, yet well-deserved podium.

Since then, the team kept their form up, bagging multiple top three finishes. Many touted Alonso to quickly catch up to Red Bull and get his hands on that elusive 33rd race win. He came close during the 2023 Monaco GP. However, a few regressive upgrades later, the team lost ground in the developmental race and eventually finished 5th in the Constructors’ standings.

This isn’t just a numbers game. Real drivers, stop scrolling and listen up.

12.02.24#AstonMartin #DrivingAtTheLimit

— Aston Martin (@astonmartin) January 29, 2024

That being said, the team is high on spirits and optimistic about the year to come. “I see only positives,” declared Alonso with the hindsight of 2023, as quoted by The Guardian. His team principal, Mike Krack, is cautiously optimistic, too but has a pillar of hope in the form of the team’s owner, Canadian billionaire, Lawrence Stroll.

Stroll’s big bucks and extensive investment into the team have really given the Silverstone based team a great foundation, in terms of expenditure, infrastructure and morale. And according to Krack it is only a testament to how passionate Stroll is about the team and the sport.

The post Fernando Alonso Shares His Notes on 2024 Aston Martin Challenger And It’s Not All Good appeared first on The SportsRush.

In a video uploaded by his team Aston Martin, Alonso described why he was still motivated to give it all despite doing things on repeat for 21 years now. Soymotor.com quoted him,

“Even if it is the 21st season in F1, it is still the same adrenaline. It’s a unique feeling at this time of year, with the first weeks of January, and it’s not at all different from other seasons, you continue to have those butterflies.”

At the age of 42, the Spaniard’s determination is an inspiration for all of his rivals. And his mojo is directly translated into his on-track results. Alonso took a break from F1 at the end of 2018. When he returned in 2o21, many wrote him off but he shut them all up. His brilliant performances in his first campaign back were topped off with a podium finish in Qatar, which no one expected.

Fernando Alonso: Even if it is the 21st season in F1, it is still the same adrenaline. It’s a unique feeling at this time of year, with the first weeks of January, and it’s not at all different from other seasons, you continue to have those butterflies.

— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) January 29, 2024

Now, embarking on his second season with Aston Martin, the Spaniard is ready to do his talking on the track again. And seeing how he’s overseen the turnaround in the Silverstone-based team’s fortunes, the team will rely on him to deliver yet another milestone in 2024.

Aston Martin riding high on retaining Fernando Alonso for 2024

For Aston Martin, having a driver of Alonso’s caliber is surely a spring in the step for their morale. But more importantly, he will play a huge role for their chances of moving up the ladder in F1. Since his arrival, Alonso has single-handedly uplifted the team, not only in terms of results but also in their championship rank.

The AMR23, arguably influenced by Alonso’s inputs in the off-season, was a regular podium contender in the first-half of the 2023 campaign. Eventually, despite a drop in form later on in the year, the team clinched a respectable 5th in the Constructors’ championship last year.

<

Alonso vows F1 2024 will be ‘even better’ for Aston Martin
https://t.co/6nljr43isD

— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) January 17, 2024

/h2>
Alonso has already started working on the team’s 2024 project. Whilst relaying the leaps in technology the modern simulator has made, Alonso revealed,

“It’s been good to get up to speed and try different settings on the model.” 

That being said, in 2024, Aston Martin will probably not become title contenders. With the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren making monumental strides in terms of development in 2023, Aston Martin have a bit of catch-up to do. Nonetheless, Alonso will hope to be in the mix for podiums on the regular and even vie for that elusive 33rd Grand Prix win sometime this season.

The post Despite Spending 21 Seasons in F1, Fernando Alonso Claims What Makes Him Keep Going appeared first on The SportsRush.

In a recent interview with Autosport, the Luxembourger stated that the racing field would become more tightly contested in the 2024 season. It is because, in Krack’s opinion, other teams are now coming up with “radical changes.”

However, while addressing his team, Krack emphasized the need for Aston Martin to remain focused to achieve the optimal final position. He elaborated, “But overall, I would be surprised if there are any major deviations from where we are now.” Last year, there were reports that Aston Martin took inspiration from the concept of Red Bull’s RB19.

This move provided the team with an advantage that was not seized upon by other competitors like Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes. However, as per Krack, in the upcoming season, all the teams are set to undergo substantial changes.

Which teams narrowed the gap with Red Bull?

While Red Bull enjoyed a successful season in 2023, they faced strong competition from various teams at different stages. The initial challenge came from Aston Martin, and later, McLaren joined the battle. After the Austrian GP upgrades, McLaren underwent a significant improvement in their performances.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both displayed impressive skills, with the former showcasing his talents in races like Silverstone, Qatar, and Austria. Meanwhile, Piastri achieved a notable feat by winning the Sprint race in Qatar. While McLaren still have a huge gap to Red Bull, Stella remains hopeful about his side’s ability to catch up during the winter.

Nevertheless, toward the end of the season, two other teams witnessed a narrowing of the gap with Red Bull: Mercedes and Ferrari. In the Austin race, Lewis Hamilton posed a formidable challenge to Max Verstappen. Meanwhile, in races like Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi, Charles Leclerc emerged as a strong contender against Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen.

Additionally, Carlos Sainz’s skilled driving made the Prancing Horse the sole team to disrupt Red Bull’s string of victories. Evaluating this fierce competition, one might speculate that the approaching 2024 season will definitely be posing challenges for Verstappen and his team.

The post Aston Martin Boss Believes Red Bull Face More Challenge From Rivals in 2024 appeared first on The SportsRush.

These three days will be crucial for all ten teams to understand their new cars for the upcoming season. As mentioned earlier, it will provide equal opportunities to test, experiment, and verify the nuances of their new car concepts and even falter to find any potential mistakes.

How does F1 Pre-Season testing work?

Over the winter break since the end of last season, all teams must have made substantial changes to their cars. There are teams like Mercedes and Ferrari who are probably bringing brand-new concepts to the table for their 2024 challengers.

Therefore, Pre-Season testing will help them to test the new parts of their car concepts besides benchmarking where their performance and reliability lie relative to other teams. In 2023, Aston Martin got to know how they made significant progress over the previous year’s car. Meanwhile, McLaren and Alpine left Bahrain clueless about their performance potential.

Drivers like Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will get an idea of how their respective new machinery feels on all fronts, be it performance, reliability, handling, and tire degradation. The crucial question they would want to understand is whether they can fight for the 2024 championship or not.

Besides the main drivers, teams also give a chance to young junior drivers associated with them for a session or two. Last year, when Lance Stroll was suffering from an injury, Aston Martin fielded Felipe Drugovich in their car for pre-season testing.

Similar to Drugovich, this year drivers like Oliver Bearman, Theo Pourchaire, or Frederik Vesti may get a session or two if any drivers at Ferrari, Haas, Sauber, or Mercedes are not available to run due to any issue.

From the engineers’ perspective, it will be a busy time as they will have to collect data and verify it from what they have figured out in wind tunnels and simulators. It also gives the pit crews the option to practice pit stops, which many teams would ideally like to capitalize upon and eliminate any lapses for the race weekends.

Where is F1 Pre-Season testing happening in 2024?

Usually, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has been hosting pre-season testing for F1. However, in the last few years, the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, has hosted testing. In 2024, F1 teams will arrive in Bahrain for three days of testing, beginning February 21.

According to F1’s official website, the testing sessions will begin at 10:00 local time in Sakhir and run till 19:00 local time. These sessions will be split by a 1-hour lunch break to make it two 4-hour sessions.

As for fans wanting to attend the testing event at the Sakhir circuit, they can only do so on days two and three. The first day of the 2024 pre-season testing will be a closed affair with no fans allowed to attend.

The reasoning behind this is F1 teams may not want any fans to witness their car suffering major breakdowns, as it is a step into the unknown even for them.

Will F1 Pre-Season testing be broadcast on TV?

Ideally, fans would want to see the new F1 cars in live-action before the season starts and would want to attend Pre-Season testing in Bahrain. It will certainly give fans to catch 16 additional hours of on-track F1 action.

However, not all big-name drivers and teams may be on track all the time, as the nature of testing goes. Reliability issues may certainly force teams to stay in garages.

So fans can watch Pre-season testing at leisure on TV. Respective broadcasters in various regions such as Sky Sports in the UK, ESPN in the US, and other territories often confirm if they will broadcast the three-day event in Bahrain.

As of now, the sport’s streaming platform, F1TV, will certainly stream all three days of pre-season testing like last year. With F1TV’s provisions of on-boards and data and telemetry available to individual users, fans can get to understand the teams, cars, and drivers in detail in a relaxed environment.

The post Everything You Need to Know About F1 Pre-Season Testing 2024 appeared first on The SportsRush.

“Honestly, I would be amazed if he’s still going by then”, said the 1996 champion.

By the time the Madrid GP comes around, Alonso would be around the 45-year-old mark, and Hill believes it would be difficult to drive in F1 at that age. Meanwhile, the show’s host, Natalie Pinkham, cited the example of Carlos Sainz Sr., who continues to win races in the Dakar Rally.

Hill contradicted the host’s point by claiming both sports were very different. He claimed that while the experience was important in both, the Dakar rally valued it within the car, while F1 values the experience (of Alonso’s cadre) off the track. However, the ultimate decision still lies with Alonso, who is showing no signs of stopping, especially after an incredible 2023 season.

Fernando Alonso has plenty of reasons to continue driving in F1

While age may not be on his side anymore, Alonso’s dedication to driving in F1 continues to outweigh the negatives. After securing P4 in the drivers’ standings and P5 in the constructors’ championship, Alonso has a newfound confidence, as he enjoyed a strong start to the 2023 season.

As the season progressed, Aston Martin suffered a sudden downfall in their performance, halting their progress and allowing others to catch up.

Mike Krack: “Mientras que Vettel estaba en las últimas, Fernando Alonso vio el proyecto de Aston Martin como otro desafío”.

“Muchos pilotos van a equipos más pequeños e intentan hacer lo que pueden hasta el final de su carrera. Esto no es lo que hemos visto con Fernando”.… pic.twitter.com/FfXtdkpxbh

— Fórmula Directa (@FormulaDirecta) January 24, 2024

However, Alonso’s unwavering determination meant the slump did not demotivate him much. He continued to believe in a comeback from his team, and when the time came, he delivered some much-needed results.

Heading into the 2024 season, Alonso would want to continue being a part of the progress being made by his team while keeping an eye out for the elusive win no. 33. Although his ultimate goal remains winning his third drivers’ championship.

The post “I Would Be Amazed”: Ex-F1 Champ Unsure About Madrid Having Fernando Alonso Card to Flex Before Inaugural Race appeared first on The SportsRush.