Fernando Alonso's comments put Aston Martin F1 team on notice: 'I expect a lot'

Aston Martin revealed its car, the AMR23, for the 2023 Formula 1 season, and not just the livery the team will field over the next 23 races. But perhaps more telling was driver Fernando Alonso not mincing his words when declaring the team's ambitions for this year, and those still coming.

Since the brand's return in 2021, Aston Martin has yet to be setting the F1 world alight. Both 2021 and 2022 saw the team finish seventh of the ten constructors, but there is hope they will improve their position this year.

And a lot of that improvement is down to Alonso's unwavering dedication to success.

"I am very demanding in everything that I do, and I expect a lot from people that I work with," said Alonso at the team's Silverstone launch on Monday.

"I give 100%, and I expect the same back, and since my first day at Aston Martin, I have felt exactly the same values from the people around me."

The #AMR23 is here.#NewEnergy pic.twitter.com/AyqFetGhh3

Can they up their game?

One of the big questions Aston Martin must answer in 2023 is whether the past seasons' investments are paying off. Or, at most, have paid off. Team owner and Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll has invested a ton of money into the F1 project and has made no bones about the fact that he wants to win championships. He even doubled the staff complement from 400 to 800 people.

Although, some believe that he only invested in F1 to secure a racing seat for his son, Lance. Be that as it may…

Alonso signing onto the team from Alpine has been with the aim of adding to his 32 F1 race victories, and possibly even to the championships he won in 2005/6. For these reasons, Alonso would want to show that at 41, he is still as hungry as ever before to taste success in F1, and he