After weeks of Aston Martin being accused of copying Red Bull and Mercedes, double world champion Fernando Alonso has responded by saying that the Silverstone-based team are the ones being copied.
Red Bull and Mercedes have both questioned Aston Martin’s concept, with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff having gone as far as stating that the bulk of the AMR23 is in fact the Germans.
Aston Martin boasts the same engine, rear suspension, and gearbox as Mercedes, with the duo also using the same wind tunnel.
Alonso had to deal with several comments after finishing third at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, with Sergio Pérez having joked that there were “three Red Bulls” on the podium at the Bahrain International Circuit.
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Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko made similar comments, before backtracking on what he said ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
“That’s not meant to be an accusation either. Those are just joking remarks. If you look in the field, the Aston Martin is the car most similar to the Red Bull,” Marko said following claims that the Austrians believe Aston Martin copied their concept.
The likelihood is that Aston Martin and Alonso will have to put up with more “imitation” comments after Sunday’s race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, given that Alonso starts on the front row alongside Pérez.
Alonso has a great chance at claiming back-to-back podiums on Sunday, something which will likely further frustrate Red Bull and Mercedes.
“I don’t think, you know, two Red Bulls are on the first row tomorrow. I think they are very different,” said Alonso.
“Red Bull said that the cars were the same, but they are very different. And also Toto said that the cars were the same: the Mercedes and the Aston because we share 50 per cent of the car or something like that.
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“But it seems that everyone is an Aston Martin now.”
Whilst Alonso has been busy responding to the claims made by Mercedes and Red Bull, Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack is refusing to get involved in a “war of words” with his counterparts at the leading sides.
“I mean, we always decided we will not go into any war of words.”