Fernando Alonso has frightened to Helmut Marko. The Asturian driver, who finally has a competitive car capable of anything in an Aston Martin that has scored two podiums in two races, The Australian GP will start fourth behind of max verstappen and of the mercedes by George Russell and by Lewis Hamilton. But, despite that, those of the energy drinks are clear that he is their rival.
How everything has had to change in months so that even having two Mercedes behind its driver look at who goes fourth. But yes, it is exactly like that. That is what Alonso and Aston Martin have achieved.
What they have achieved in just a couple of Grand Prix. They have gone from wanting to lead the midfield to being the great threat of Red Bull. The biggest concern of the world champion team and the car that has had the most dominance since 2022 to this part.
But it is exactly so. In the world Cup, Alonso is 14 points away of Verstappen and of Perez, and in Albert Park the Mexican pilot starts from the last position. Melbourne is not Jeddah, and it is difficult for it to reach the noble zone of the test.
“I hope Mercedes can stop Alonso”
Fernando knows it, and Helmut Marko knows it too. He also knows that he is the long run the strongest point of Aston Martin. In qualifying it works well, but in the race his pace has been the only one capable of putting Red Bull in trouble. Not in vain has he been third behind both pilots of the Austrian team in the two tests held.
That’s why they can’t take their eyes off him. To such an extent is it so that Marko expects a little help from Mercedes to slow down the Aston Martin.
“I hope that Mercedes is not so fast and they can stop Alonso. It would give us leeway,” says Marko.
And he continues: “Fernando is going to be stronger… but if the output is normal and the drivers go through the first corner in the same order, it could be a good race for us.”
Alonso, road to 33?
Yes, Red Bull does not trust a hair of Alonso in Australia. Fernando has made a great classification, always close to Verstappen, and only the final rush of the surprising Mercedes has prevented it from coming out on the front line with Red Bull.
