Mar.4 (GMM) Flavio Briatore, who nonetheless oversees the big-picture administration of Fernando Alonso’s profession, admits he’s already scouring the paddock for alternatives for 2025.
With Lewis Hamilton vacating his Mercedes cockpit on the finish of the yr, Alonso – along with his expiring Aston Martin deal – isn’t but able to re-commit to the workforce for 2025.
And Aston Martin chiefs could now be very nervous about shedding the 42-year-old Spaniard to a quicker rival, having failed within the mission to interrupt into the highest three or 4 groups this season.
“The primary race of the confirms that there are nonetheless 4 groups in entrance of us,” Alonso informed DAZN. “We now have began as we completed in Abu Dhabi – behind McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari and Pink Bull.”
Alonso was euphoric when he certified P6 in Bahrain, solely to droop to P9 when Saturday’s chequer waved.
“Qualifying didn’t put us in a scenario that was actual,” he stated. “Within the race we noticed the fact.
“I feel I used to be 18 seconds behind the McLarens and the Saubers had been 28 seconds behind,” Alonso added. “When you see that you could’t beat these in entrance of you, you must settle for that these three or 4 tenths are lacking.”
Nonetheless, he’s not writing off the season but, admitting it’s now “as much as us to take the type of step just like the one McLaren took in the midst of final yr”.
“Final yr we began very robust after which we couldn’t sustain with the tempo of growth of the massive groups,” he added. “Now I feel the bottom we now have will enable us to enhance race by race.
“However proper now I feel the forces are just like what they had been final yr, apart from us who ended the yr somewhat worse than we began. Ferrari are roughly the place they had been, Pink Bull forward, similar as final yr.
“Mercedes improved within the yr, McLaren higher than anybody – they had been the second power at a number of races. Let’s see if we might be a type of modifications, a type of surprises, now,” Alonso stated.
If Aston Martin can’t obtain that, Mercedes would seem like a transparent upwards step for Alonso in 2025 – though Gunther Steiner isn’t so positive.
“I used to be shocked,” the previous Haas boss informed RTL when requested about Mercedes’ efficiency in Bahrain. “Extra shocked than disenchanted. They fought with the 2 McLarens, not with Pink Bull and Ferrari.
“I anticipated extra from them.”
To start to smell out Alonso’s alternatives for 2025, the acquainted face of Flavio Briatore was a notable determine within the Bahrain paddock.
“We’re working and searching for one of the best future possibility for Fernando,” the Italian, who was seen assembly with Toto Wolff (Mercedes) but additionally Pink Bull’s Christian Horner, confirmed.
