Alonso expects progress at Aston Martin

In brief

Alonso expects stronger 2024

After scoring eight podium finishes for Aston Martin in 2023 and taking his best championship position for 10 years, Alonso sees several reasons why they should be stronger next year.

“This being my second year with the team will help,” he told their official website. “I don’t need to do many of the things I had to do at the start of this year: I don’t need to put names to all the faces; I don’t need to do seat fittings, learn the terminology and do all of the other accommodations that have to happen when you’re a new driver in a team.

“Everything will just be easier. We can focus more on performance and preparation for the first couple of races right from day one.”

He said the huge step forward the team made between the last two seasons also gives them a better platform to work from.

“We also have a very strong baseline to work with from 2023. When we arrive at a race, the work we do will be an optimisation of what we did this year. The 2022 car was perhaps not good enough as a reference for us this year, and on many weekends, we were starting from zero. 2024, it should be easier in terms of preparation, and we can focus more on detail.”

Ferrari confirm car launch date

Ferrari have become the first team to announce a launch date for their new car for the 2024 F1 season.The successor to the SF-23 will be revealed on February 13th.

Floersch changes F3 teams

Sophia Floersch will spend a third season in Formula 3 next year, moving from PHM Racing by Charouz to Van Amersfoort. She finished seventh in the championship this year, having also previously contested the 2020 season for Campos.

Floersch, who is a member of Alpine’s junior driver programme, raced for Van Amersfoort in the non-championship Macau Grand Prix last month. “I am super excited to be back with Van Amersfoort Racing,” she said, “it feels like coming home. I have confidence in our ability to progress and deliver strong performances together.”

Alpine confirms buy-in

Alpine has confirmed the purchase of a 24% stake by Orto Capital, the investors behind which include Kansas City Chiefs NFL team players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, golfer Rory McIlroy (through Symphony Ventures Capital), boxer Anthony Joshua, footballers Trent Alexander-Arnold and Juan Mata and Eberg Capital founder Roger Ehrenberg.

The stake was purchased for…