Fernando Alonso's manager blasts Aston Martin's regressive upgrades at Imola: "Sometimes it is better to have a few, but ones that work"

Fernando Alonso's manager and former Renault team boss, Flavio Briatore criticized Aston Martin's latest upgrade package at the 2024 F1 Imola GP. Briatore believes that a handful of strong upgrades are better than a massive package that does not improve the car.

As the 2024 F1 season progressed, many teams introduced major upgrade packages to improve their F1 cars. Coming into Imola, it was Aston Martin that brought loads of new upgrades to push forward and fight against top teams. However, the upgrades did not work as expected for Fernando Alonso.

The Spanish driver had a poor race weekend at Emilia Romagna. He only managed to secure P10 in the first two practice sessions on Friday. In the third and final practice on Saturday, he lost control of his car at Rivazza corner and crashed into the wall, bringing out the first of two red flags in that session.

Though Aston Martin was successful in fixing Alonso's car by qualifying, it still had some issues that prevented the Spaniard from securing a decent position for the Imola GP. Alonso started the race from the pitlane since his car was modified during the Parc Ferme conditions. Eventually, he was only able to finish last in P19.

Speaking to the Spanish wing of DAZN between FP3 and qualifying, Flavio Briatore stated that Alonso's struggles at Imola indicate that Aston Martin's upgrades have taken the team backward. He added that, in some instances, bringing a handful of upgrades that improve the car is better than a long list of new parts that do not work.

"It seems that Fernando's car is not working well here and instead of going forward we are going backwards. From what we saw today, it seems that we have taken a step backwards. There are many updates, but sometimes it is better to have a few, but ones that work," Briatore said. (via formulapassion.it)

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Fernando Alonso looking forward to Monaco after a dull weekend at Imola

Fernando Alonso talked about his dull race at the 2024 F1 Imola GP and how he was already looking forward to Monaco. Speaking to F1.com, he stated that it was a frustrating race where he was hoping for a safety car or red flag that could shuffle the grid. He labeled Imola as the most boring race ever and conveyed how he wants to focus on the Monaco GP.

"That kind of weekend where, you know... it was frustrating. On the race, you know more or less what is going to happen. You hope for some safety cars or red flags or something that can mix the race. But today, when we started at the back at zero, the most boring race ever, and we just completed the race and thinking Monaco," Alonso said.

Fernando Alonso is currently ninth on the 2024 F1 drivers' championship table with 33 points. His old rival Lewis Hamilton is ahead of him in eighth place with 35 points.