Fernando Alonso is hoping that tensions between the Red Bull drivers would aid him in his quest to win his 33rd Grand Prix as the team is currently leading on the 2023 grid.
Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso claims he is closely monitoring Red Bull tensions to determine whether the rivalry between drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez escalates.
With three victories and the appearance of having a performance edge over every other car, Red Bull’s RB19 has established itself as the best car on the grid so far in 2023.
Since 2022, Alonso’s Aston Martin team has improved significantly. The Spaniard has now finished third three times in a row, and the team is second in the Constructors’ Championship.
The two-time world champion now claims that Red Bull’s troubles will be a major factor in determining if he wins his first Grand Prix since Spain 2013.
“Hopefully a win will arrive, the 33rd that has been talked about so much,” Alonso said in an interview with DAZN. “But we have to be realistic… We know that the Red Bulls are too far ahead now.
“But hey, anything can happen… A reliability problem, a touch between them.
“We know there has been a lot of talk about them having a hot environment, so we will pay attention.”
Given that Perez had to start from the pit lane after spinning during qualifying in Australia, Verstappen and Perez were not in close enough proximity to battle out for a win throughout the Australian Grand Prix.
However, during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Perez, who had won from pole as Verstappen had issues in qualifying expressed disbelief that the Dutchman had taken the extra point for fastest lap despite being advised not to push.
Additionally, Verstappen disobeyed team orders to let Perez pass at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix. Rumors suggest that the Dutchman’s discontent was caused by Perez’s crash during qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix that year, which prevented Verstappen and other drivers from improving their lap times.
Alonso has experience working in a hostile intra-team atmosphere. In 2007, he and Lewis Hamilton, a rookie teammate, had a renowned rocky relationship at McLaren.
