No one, perhaps not even Fernando Alonso could’ve imagined what he was signing up for when he joined Aston Martin. In fact, the Spaniard received a lot of criticism for his move. Most considered it a backward step in his career. Fernando was joining a team that finished 7th in the championship from a team that won the midfield battle. However, Aston Martin was prepared to reward Alonso with a car worthy of his talents. In return, he has placed the AMR23 on the podium more times this season than he has any other car in almost a decade. This meteoric rise to the top has even made his old team Alpine issue an astonishing statement.

Alpine and Alonso did not end their relationship on the best of terms. Alonso has not kept his animosity towards the Alpine a surprise either. Safe to assume, there is plenty of bad blood between both camps. This is exactly why the confession made by Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi is surprising.

 As per SoyMotor, in statements published by the BBC, the Alpine CEO said, “It was a reality check for Mercedes, for Ferrari, and for us. We were comfortable thinking that we were on the rise and suddenly they came and surpassed us all.”

“I guess they’ve done it in a more radical way, put themselves in a more uncomfortable situation, to break down some barriers, to change the way they were doing it a little bit.” [Translated via Google]

Months After an Ugly Split With Alpine, Fernando Alonso Launches Another Attack on Esteban Ocon & Co. While Praising Aston Martin

Rossi’s Alpine is pushed back in the F1 hierarchy in just a matter of months thanks to Aston Martin’s rise and he is taking this on the chin. However, he still has the man partly responsible for this meteoric rise within his ranks.

Alpine TP takes credit for the meteoric rise of Fernando Alonso-led Aston Martin

It might be the case of sour grapes or there might be some truth to these claims but Otmar Szafnauer believes he is the reason for Aston Martin’s rise. The Romanian was Aston Martin’s team principal before he moved to Alpine in 2022. So during Aston Martin’s transitional and poaching period, Szafnauer was in charge and that’s exactly what he is pointing out.

“There is a lot of talk about Dan Fallows and Eric Blandin and their work on the current car, but… who signed them?” asked Otmar and continued, “And along with them other technicians from Red Bull or Mercedes have come to the Silverstone team. But so that these signings could It took time to make a difference, because first they have to respect the ‘gardening’, which in high-profile figures is always long, and then they have to start working in the new team, integrate, before starting to do things.”

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There might be some truth in Szafnauer’s comments. However, he is part of a new project, a project that might take on the Aston Martin route and try to get on top as soon as possible.

WATCH THIS STORY | How Aston Martin F1 Turned Around From a Struggling Mid-Field Team to Being the 2nd Fastest in 2023