Fernando Alonso has delivered a telling response to Toto Wolff and Christian Horner as tension ramps up concerning the groups. Alonso seemed to claim Mercedes and Purple Bull experienced copied Aston Martin’s principle alternatively than the other about.
It arrives immediately after the two staff bosses fired accusations at the British producer forward of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Soon after securing a entrance-row begin for Sunday’s race, Alonso discussed: “I you should not assume, you know, two Red Bulls are on the 1st row tomorrow. I think they are pretty various.
“Red Bull mentioned that the cars were being the similar, but they are very various. And also Toto explained that the automobiles were being the exact same: the Mercedes and the Aston for the reason that we share 50 for each cent of the car or truck or anything like that.
“But it seems that all people is an Aston Martin now.” When questioned about the AMR23 in Bahrain, Horner pressured that “imitation is the most important sort of flattery”.
He even joked it was “good to see the aged car likely so well” in a dig at Aston Martin’s choice to comply with Crimson Bull’s sidepod structure. Sergio Perez also poked enjoyable at the group, admitting there were being “three Crimson Bulls” on the podium in Sakhir.
Helmut Marko backtracked on his feedback ahead of the race in Jeddah, suggesting the squad experienced in no way intended to get in touch with out wrongdoing. He reported: “That’s not meant to be an accusation possibly. All those are just joking remarks. If you glance in the subject, the Aston Martin is the motor vehicle most similar to the Crimson Bull.”
Wolff has also bought weighed into the discussion as he suggested Aston Martin’s concepts stemmed from the Silver Arrows. The Austrian observed similarities with the engine, gearbox and rear suspension and famous that the design was developed in their wind tunnel.
Aston Martin staff principal Mike Krack has refused to get drawn into a fight in excess of the challenge for the rest of 2023. Forward of spherical two, he commented: “I mean, we constantly resolved we will not go into any war of words and phrases.”
Alonso will get started P2 for in Saudi Arabia soon after benefiting from dependability issues which plagued Max Verstappen. A 10-put grid penalty for Charles Leclerc also promoted the Spaniard who was in the beginning 3rd fastest in Q3.
Group-mate Lance Stroll matched Sergio Perez’s eventual pole lap in sector 1 and two but shed time right after an error at flip 22.
