Fernando Alonso — 2023 season

Fernando Alonso's 2023 Formula 1 season was a compelling narrative of veteran skill meeting unexpected machinery, as he spearheaded Aston Martin's dramatic ascent in the constructors' standings.

Going in

Alonso entered 2023 having moved to Aston Martin, a team that finished seventh in the 2022 Constructors' Championship. The ground-effect regulations, introduced in 2022, had already seen Red Bull establish a dominant position, but the field behind them was expected to be competitive. For Alonso, a driver with a career spanning over two decades, the move represented a gamble on a team with significant investment and ambition, seeking to capitalize on the new technical era. The expectation was for Aston Martin to make strides, but few anticipated the immediate impact Alonso would have.

How it played out

The season began with an immediate statement of intent. Alonso secured three consecutive podium finishes in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, a run that quickly established Aston Martin as a genuine front-runner behind the dominant Red Bull. He added further podiums in Miami and Monaco, where he finished 2nd, narrowly missing a victory. This early form saw him consistently battling with Mercedes and Ferrari drivers, often outperforming cars that, on paper, were considered stronger. By the halfway point, Alonso had accumulated 6 podiums, a testament to both the AMR23's initial design and his renowned race craft. His performance in the early races, particularly his strategic acumen and tire management, allowed him to maximize every opportunity. For context, this kind of immediate impact with a new team is rare, even for seasoned drivers, as seen in some of Lewis Hamilton's earlier seasons with Mercedes after his move.

The mid-season brought a dip in form for Aston Martin, with the team struggling to maintain development pace against rivals. From the Spanish Grand Prix to the Italian Grand Prix, Alonso's results varied, including a 7th in Spain and a 9th in Hungary. The Singapore Grand Prix marked a notable low point, finishing 15th and out of the points. This period highlighted the inherent challenges of the ground-effect era, where car development is relentless and small missteps can lead to significant performance swings. However, Alonso's resilience was evident. He returned to the podium with a strong 2nd place at the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break, demonstrating his ability to extract performance even when the car's competitive edge was less pronounced. His late-season form included a memorable 3rd place at the São Paulo Grand Prix, a race that showcased his defensive driving and strategic patience.