F1 | Fernando Alonso eyes progress at Monza after Aston Martin improvements. Fernando Alonso approaches the Italian Grand Prix at Monza with caution but determination.

F1 | Fernando Alonso approaches Italian GP with caution and determination

The Italian Grand Prix at Monza is always a special event. Racing at one of Formula 1’s most historic circuits means breathing in the very tradition of motorsport. For Fernando Alonso, who has experienced memorable moments here with Ferrari and witnessed the evolution of safety standards over the years, the significance of this track runs even deeper.

Alonso’s words ahead of the Monza weekend

On the eve of the race weekend, the Spanish driver from Aston Martin shared his thoughts, aware that Monza could prove to be a difficult circuit for the team after what was seen at Spa, a track with similar characteristics. Speaking at the press conference that opened the weekend, Fernando Alonso explained:

“We come to Monza with a little more caution regarding our performance. It’s a circuit where efficiency counts a lot. The last track we raced on with these characteristics was Spa, and we were not very fast there. We’ve made a few changes since Spa in terms of car setup and how we approach the weekend. We hope to go a little better, but I think on paper this track is not the same as the last two races.”

Aston Martin showing progress since the start of the season

Alonso then reflected on Aston Martin’s growth compared to the early part of the season: “I think things are going much better now than at the start. My first points of the season came only in race number eight or nine. At the beginning we didn’t have a car capable of finishing in the top 10 on Sunday. Now it seems we are able to fight and score points regularly. In the last nine races I think we made it to Q3 and the top 10 in seven of them. We’re still working a bit on the setup, weekend after weekend, but I think from an aerodynamic point of view the car is much more stable, much easier to drive, and this allows us to put the laps together.”

Alonso highlights the most promising circuits

The two-time world champion also looked ahead to the remainder of the calendar and pointed out the venues where Aston Martin might be more competitive: “I think there are a couple of circuits where we believe we have a chance, like Budapest and Zandvoort. Maybe Singapore could be one of them, maybe Brazil. But we have been surprised a few times — sometimes in a negative way, sometimes positively. So we don’t want to put all our hopes on one or two races. We want to approach every weekend giving our maximum, including this one at Monza, even if it has always been a difficult track.”