Alonso names key factor that will unlock more performance for Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso believes that Aston Martin will have a betterreference during next year, after a strong 2023 season with theAMR23. The team managed to finish on the podium eight timesthroughout the year, while also challenging for a win at the MonacoGrand Prix with Alonso. Their impressive start came after theystruggled when the ground-effect cars were reintroduced in 2022,prompting a concept change between the AMR22 and AMR23. Thisaffected their base car setup for this year, as they often had towork from "zero" on race weekends according to Alonso. Speakingabout how he expects the team to unlock more performance next year,Alonso said: "Everything will just be easier. We can focus more onperformance and preparation for the first couple of races rightfrom day one. "We also have a very strong baseline to work withfrom 2023. When we arrive at a race, the work we do will be anoptimisation of what we did this year. "The 2022 car was perhapsnot good enough as a reference for us this year, and on manyweekends, we were starting from zero. 2024, it should be easier interms of preparation, and we can focus more on detail." Alonso alsoexpects his second year with Aston Martin will be easier, as he'salready familiarised himself with the team environment. "This beingmy second year with the team will help. I don't need to do many ofthe things I had to do at the start of this year," said Alonso. "Idon't need to put names to all the faces; I don't need to do seatfittings, learn the terminology and do all of the otheraccommodations that have to happen when you're a new driver in ateam."