Red Bull’s Sergio Perez has warned that Aston Martin could be a genuine championship contender, after the team rose up the rankings.
Perez left Racing Point at the end of 2021, as it transitioned into the Aston Martin team that is on the grid today, so he knows first-hand the potential of Lawrence Stroll’s Constructor.
With the Mexican fighting for his maiden title in Formula 1, Perez is conscious of the threat posed by Aston Martin as they fight to secure a victory in the sport.
“I know that it is a team that can go very far,” Perez told DAZN.
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“Lawrence [Stroll] is so hungry for victory and he will do everything to take Aston Martin to the top.
“It will be interesting to see their evolution throughout the season.”
Aston Martin’s success this season has been the biggest shock in the paddock, with the team capitalising on the addition of two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso.
Alonso secured three consecutive podium finishes in the opening rounds of the 2023 season, bagging key points for the team.
The Spaniard is enjoying a resurgence in his Formula 1 career, although, as the oldest F1 driver, his time on the grid is limited.
“F1 is not a matter of age, it is a matter of motivation,” Perez said.
“Are you willing to leave everything you have to leave behind to compete throughout the year with your whole life revolving around F1?
“If you have the motivation that Alonso still has, then you can still be there. Because Fernando is driving better than ever.”
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Going into the fifth round of the Formula 1 season, Aston Martin will be determined to take victory if the opportunity arises, with Alonso keen to show he can fight for a third world championship regardless of his age.
“[Another world championship] is the aim for sure but I think at the moment we have to keep our feet on the ground,” Alonso said recently.
“The aim for the team is just to have a good season. They struggled a lot in 2022, so I think we have to – let’s say – walk before we run.”