Last Updated on September 12 2024, 11:36 am

Alonso hits back at critics as the Spaniard defends his performance during difficult 2024 F1 season – The 2024 Formula One season has proved to be a major disappointment for Aston Martin and its veteran driver Fernando Alonso. Hopes were high after a promising 2023 season, but this year the team has struggled to keep pace with the top contenders and Alonso has found himself the target of criticism.

Many have pointed to the narrowing gap between the two-time world champion and team-mate Lance Stroll as evidence of Alonso’s decline. However, the 43-year-old Spaniard is not one to take such comments lightly. He has hit back, offering his own analysis of the situation and setting the record straight with a pointed defence of his performance.

Known for his tenacity on and off the track, Alonso remains resolute in the face of what he sees as unwarranted scrutiny. And while his dream of a first Grand Prix victory since 2013 has once again slipped further out of reach, the former champion is refusing to let the criticism dampen his spirit.

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Aston Martin’s decline: A season of struggle

The Aston Martin AMR24 has proved to be a challenging car this year, and is far from capable of competing for victories in the 2024 Formula One season. With just 50 points to his name after 16 of 24 races, Alonso is languishing in ninth place in the Drivers’ Championship.

His closest rival? Team-mate Lance Stroll, who sits just behind him on 24 points.

The contrast is a far cry from Alonso’s impressive form in 2023, when he was consistently challenging for podium finishes. That year the Spaniard finished fourth in the championship with 206 points, a season in which he finished on the podium eight times. He comfortably dominated his team-mate Stroll in both qualifying (19-3) and race results (18-3). In the 2024 season, however, that internal superiority has diminished, with a much closer 11-5 balance in both qualifying and race results.

Alonso’s best result so far this year was fifth in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. For a driver who has built his career on pushing the limits and maximising performance, such results have led some to question whether the 43-year-old is showing signs of slowing down. Ever the competitor, however, Alonso has a different take on the story.

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Alonso defends season amid criticism

In response to the growing chorus of criticism, Alonso has defended his season with characteristic candour. Speaking at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, he addressed those questioning his performance:

“I don’t know what people expect sometimes with the car the way it is. We have been fighting with the midfield teams recently and I still have a good number of points.”

Although he admits to being less than happy with his results, Alonso is quick to point out that his personal disappointment is far less severe than his critics might suggest.

“I’m not very happy with the season, but I’m much happier than people think about my season,” he said, admitting that his confidence in the car has wavered at times.

“I’m not completely confident with the car, and that slows me down sometimes,” Alonso added, highlighting the difficulty of extracting top performances from a car that simply hasn’t lived up to expectations.

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The rise of Stroll: Alonso explains teammate’s progress

Alonso’s critics have been quick to point out the narrowing gap between him and team-mate Lance Stroll, suggesting it is evidence of Alonso’s waning form. But Alonso has a different perspective. He is not surprised by Stroll’s improvement, and has openly praised the Canadian’s progress this year.

“Lance is doing a great job this year,” said Alonso, showing respect for his team-mate’s efforts. He even referred to the technical challenges Stroll faced last season, noting that many of those issues have now been resolved.

“As I said last year, he had some specific problems with the car, which he has solved this year,” Alonso added, making it clear that Stroll’s improved performance is no coincidence.

The Spaniard also drew attention to Stroll’s performance in 2022, where he competed at a similar level to Alonso’s predecessor, Sebastian Vettel.

Alonso believes that context is important in understanding the current situation: “In one of my worst seasons, as I sometimes read in some news reports, I have twice as many points,” he said.

The message is clear: despite the challenges, Alonso believes his performance still stands up to scrutiny.

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Statistical defence: Alonso’s performance in context

Alonso’s defence of his season wasn’t just anecdotal – he backed it up with data. He pointed out that scoring twice as many points as a team-mate is a rare achievement in Formula One. In fact, only three other teams on the 2024 grid have done so: Red Bull, where Max Verstappen has 303 points to Sergio Perez’s 143; Haas, where Nico Hülkenberg leads Kevin Magnussen 22 to 6; and Williams, where Alexander Albon’s six points leave Logan Sargeant and Franco Colapinto scoreless.

By pointing this out, Alonso is not only defending his own performance, but also putting it into perspective against the wider field of drivers, many of whom are also battling with challenging cars. His underlying message is clear: even in a difficult season, Alonso remains competitive.

The 2024 season may not be delivering the results Fernando Alonso or Aston Martin had hoped for, but the Spanish driver’s resilience is as strong as ever. Alonso’s defence of his performance goes beyond simply deflecting criticism – it underlines his deep understanding of the sport and his determination to remain a competitive force, regardless of the machinery at his disposal.

As Formula One enters the final stretch of the season, one thing is clear: Fernando Alonso is not done yet. With eight races to go, the Spaniard will undoubtedly look to silence the critics once again with his trademark grit and skill on the track.

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