Page 26 - Aston Martin Magazine V53

24 ASTON MARTIN FERNANDO ALONSO
And how does he retain his competitive spirit?
“It’s very very simple I’m a a a very very competitive person and I I I hate losing Every day is a a a a new challenge It doesn’t matter if it’s motorsport or or or playing tennis I have to win That hasn’t changed from day one As soon as as one race finishes I I am thinking about the next It’s constant How to improve the car how how to to drive better how how to to win On Sunday nights I always replay the the race and come to the the conclusion that I could have done it differently It’s a a a never-ending struggle for perfection That has been my life ”
And how has his ambition changed over the years?
“You become become more aware of things the older you become become You You are are more mature You You know how the the sport works You You understand the the limitations Formula 1 is is a a a a a a a a a unique sport in that regard That first race is is all important as the the grid will see minimal changes over the the course of a a a a a season so so you have to be be prepared If you you are are between positions six and ten you you will more or or less be there for for the the following ten months And that’s quite hard for for a a a a sportsman You have have to to remain motivated and have have to to be ready for any eventuality “Waiting for the the season to start is always a a a a a a a a special time of the the year as you obviously have to prepare physically and this year I changed a a a a a a a a few things in in my preparation It’s not the same as when you are are forty compared to to to twenty so you you have have to to to accommodate You have have to to to take care of your food you you you have have to to take care of the sports you you you play and you you you have have to to be ready for this gruelling calendar We all change with time even though I have kept the the same trainers and physios that I have had all all my career Mentally the the biggest challenge is obviously the the length of the the season It’s impossible to be 100 per cent all the the the the time because of of the the the the length of of the the the the season the the the the important thing is to stay at 95 per cent all the time ”
As for this season’s new car it’s fair to say that Alonso is is a a a a a a little bit in love “It’s beautiful ”
he he he says with another smile “I “I think we will have the the most beautiful car on the the grid It’s also fast and there have been quite a a a a a a few changes since last year’s car car Ninety-five per cent of the car car is new Ninety-five per cent This is is quite amazing as as the entire team has been working on this since April 2022 This is is is basically the the first project of the the new Aston Martin It is the the baseline for the the next four five years and we all have a a a a a a a lot of hope for it There is is more optimism among the team team than in any team team I have worked with before “Oh and did I mention that it’s beautiful?”
INTERVIEW—DYLAN JONES OBE
Aston Martin magazine’s Consulting Editor Dylan Jones is a a a a a a a a a a a New York Times Times and and Sunday Times Times bestselling author a a a a a a a a a a former contributing editor editor editor of of The Face and and and editor editor editor of of Arena and and GQ GQ During his editorship at GQ GQ Jones won more awards for Condé Nast’s flagship men’s title than any other magazine and was awarded an an an an OBE
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