Aston-Martin

DESPITE a storming weekend for Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin, questions have been raised over the legality of their car. Alonso scored his 99th career podium in Formula One at the season opener in Bahrain, adding £250million to Aston Martin’s share price in the process.
‘Three Red Bulls’ were on the podium at the Bahrain Grand PrixCredit: Rex
Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin has had it’s legality questionedCredit: AFP
The Spaniard overtook Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz on track before scoring a third-place finish behind Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
However, Red Bull chief Helmut Marko could not help but question the specification of the car.
Speaking to Servus TV following the race, Marko said: “We had three Red Bulls on the podium, only the last one with a different engine.”
Indeed, the Silverstone-based outfit recruited Red Bull’s former head of aerodynamics Dan Fallows in 2022.
READ MORE IN F1
Perhaps unsurprisingly it has led to some similarities being drawn between the two concepts.
But Marko has been left wondering whether there is any foul play involved.
He added: “It’s true that what Fallows had in his head cannot be erased.
“Copying the focus is not prohibited, but can you copy in such detail without having documentation of our car?”
Most read in Motorsport
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
Despite Marko’s serious tone on the matter, Perez and team principal Christian Horner have taken a more light-hearted approach.
During his post-race press conference, Perez joked: “It’s nice to see three Red Bull cars on the podium.”
Meanwhile, Horner said: “They say imitation is the biggest form of flattery, and it’s good to see the old car going so well.”
Aston have previously landed themselves in hot water with a similar situation a few years ago.
When they were still known as Racing Point, the team were accused of copying Mercedes’ 2019 car design in 2020.
This led to their car being nicknamed: “The Pink Mercedes”.
Following a protest from Renault – now Alpine – the FIA slapped Racing Point with a £359,000 (€400,000) fine and a 15-point deduction in the constructor’s championship.
This was because they had been found guilty of copying Mercedes’ rear brake ducts from 2019.

Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

FERNANDO ALONSO added £250million onto Aston Martin’s share price after his stunning Bahrain podium. F1’s oldest current driver was in supreme form on his debut for his new team and took advantage of the Aston’s new-found pace.
F1 veteran Alonso was in joyous mood after his first podium since 2021Credit: Rex
His podium was one of the stories of the day from the opening race of the season, which Max Verstappen won at a canter.
But fans continue to be excited about Aston Martin’s emergence, a feeling that appears to be shared by traders.
The brand’s stock went up by 15 per cent – worth around £250m – after the car’s marvellous showing in the Middle East, according to sport and business journalist Joe Pompliano.
This will be to the delight of part-owner and executive chairman Lawrence Stroll, who watched son Lance finish sixth in the other Aston Martin car despite recent injuries.
READ MORE IN F1
Stroll Sr led a consortium of investors to buy the team in 2018.
Back then they were still called Force India and were struggling to properly establish themselves towards the front of the grid.
The team changed name to Racing Point in 2019 and would adopt an eye-catching pink livery.
Lawrence’s son Lance would also join from Williams.
Most read in Motorsport
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
Results would eventually pick up with the highlight coming in Bahrain in 2020 when Sergio Perez won the Sakhir Grand Prix and Stoll finished third to give the team their best ever result.
With the team rebranding as Aston Martin in 2021, results would again go backwards.
But now the outfit looks incredibly competitive with part-owner Stroll open about his ambitions to win the world championship.
Two-times world champion Alonso, 41, is still widely considered to be among the best drivers in F1.
He won the title in 2005 and 2006 with Renault before moves to McLaren, Ferrari and Alpine.
His first race in F1 was all the way back at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix. More

FERNANDO ALONSO has been gifted a huge Aston Martin SUV for Christmas ahead of the 2023 Formula One season. Alonso joined the British team after leaving Alpine and is already reaping the rewards without even taking to the track.
Fernando Alonso has been gifted a huge Aston Martin SUV for ChristmasCredit: Instagram @fernandoalo_oficial
It comes after he was gifted a DBX 707, the luxury SUV worth £250,000 and has a top speed of 196mph.
Alonso tweeted: “Expectations were exceeded. Dream car.”
The Spaniard spent two years with Alpine after initially joining the team for the 2021 season.
But the ex-Renault, McLaren and Ferrari driver left the French outfit at the conclusion of the 2022 campaign to join the Brit team.
READ MORE IN sport
Upon signing, he said: “No one in Formula One today is demonstrating a greater vision and absolute commitment to winning, and that makes it a really exciting opportunity for me.”
Alonso added: “I still have the hunger and ambition to fight to be at the front, and I want to be part of an organisation that is committed to learn, develop and succeed.
“We all appreciate that there is much to be done to get to the front, and that we must apply all our energies in working together to find performance.
“The passion and desire to perform that I have witnessed convinced me to maintain my enjoyment and commitment to the sport.
Most read in Motorsport
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
“I intend to win again in this sport and therefore I have to take the opportunities that feel right to me.”
Aston Martin executive chairman Lawrence Stroll – father of driver Lance – said he and Alonso shared the same “ambitions”.
Stroll revealed: “I have known and admired Fernando for many years and it has always been clear that he is a committed winner like me.
“I have set out to bring together the best people and develop the right resources and organisation to succeed in this highly competitive sport, and those plans are now taking shape at Silverstone.
“It seemed natural therefore to invite Fernando to be part of the development of a winning team, and we very quickly established in our recent conversations that we have the same ambitions and values, and it was logical and easy to confirm our desire to work together.”
Fernando Alonso pictured at the Hungarian GPCredit: Splash More

SEBASTIAN VETTEL could remain in F1 next season after the retiring star held talks with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. The Aston Martin driver announced plans to step away from the sport after 15 years before last month’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
After 15 years driving in F1, Vettel’s departure will leave a hole in the sportCredit: Rex
Vettel made his debut in F1 in 2007 and went on to win four Driver’s Championships with Red Bull between 2010-13.
There was an outpouring of affection for the German after his retirement announcement, not least from his friend and former rival Lewis Hamilton.
But his time in the sport may not be done after fans tipped him for a leadership role within F1 after he spent years campaigning for issues like the environment.
And Domenicali also signalled that could be on the cards after he held talks with Vettel.
READ MORE IN F1
The F1 chief told Bild: “Among other things, we talked about his decision and the future. Sebastian will always be associated with Formula 1. And of course, we want that connection to remain close in the future.
“If he is interested in becoming part of our system and the approaches fit together, I would of course welcome him here.
“But we already know that, after the season, he wants to sort himself out and enjoy time with his family.”
Bild suggested that the new role could revolve around his recent activism in the areas of environmentalism, diversity and social issues.
Most read in Motorsport
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Vettel did hint himself in his post retirement interviews that he could stay close to the sport – as well as pursuing other interests.
The 35-year-old told Sky F1: “I have lots of interests. Some are very close to racing, and maybe they will take up more room in the future, and some have nothing to do with racing.
“One thing is what we do and the other thing is who we really are. And as much as people know me and you know me and we know each other, there are elements I don’t know about you and you don’t know about me.
“So the answer is it’s a little bit unknown. As even though you have these plans and so on, there’s no guarantee that they will all work and make me happy.”

It’s been a big week for F1 legends with Vettel’s long-time rival Fernando Alonso also announcing he is on the move.
The Spaniard is replacing Vettel at Aston Martin as the English constructors moved quickly to fill the void in their team.
In contrast, Alpine’s attempt to replace Alonso were completely catastrophic. More