Fernando Alonso's notorious temper is yet to be an issue at Aston Martin, according to his new team boss.
The F1 icon announced midway through last season that he would be leaving Alpine at the end of 2022, to replace the departing Sebastian Vettel at the British team. And his final months alongside then teammate Esteban Ocon were anything but harmonious, with the two-time world champion colliding with the Frenchman during the sprint race at the Brazil Grand Prix.
After the incident, Alonso publicly expressed his relief that he would soon be "finally" leaving Alpine, having previously been critical of the car provided to him. He eventually finished ninth in the drivers' standings on 81 points, the same tally he amassed when he was ninth in 2021.
Alonso of course, has been involved in high profile spats in the past, famously feuding with Lewis Hamilton during the British driver's debut season at McLaren in 2007. Relations between the Spaniard and the team broke down to the extent that he left the constructors just one year into a three-year deal at the end of that campaign.
But Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack has dismissed suggestions of potential problems after the 41-year-old took part in tests for his new team in Abu Dhabi. Asked had Alonso caused him any early headaches, the man from Luxembourg insisted the pair had got off to a "very good" start.
“Nothing at all but it’s the beginning of the relationship,” replied Krack via formula1news. "I think we had a very, very good start and we will really try to build on that. But I have no indications that anything will go in the wrong direction.”
With 355 race starts, Alonso has taken to an F1 grid more times than any other driver in history. And Krack hailed his knowledge and experience on what he claimed was a profitable first day of testing.
“It was very impressive. The efficiency of transmitting the messages. It was straight to the point at all times,” explained the former BMW Sauber engineer. “It was very friendly and open and transparent, I think in both directions. So we’re very pleased how this day went.”
Alonso will be partnered with Lance Stroll in 2023, the son of a team owner Lawrence. And the 41-year-old has boldly stated that amid the new F1 regulations, he believes his new team can challenge for the championship within the next two seasons.
