Fernando Alonso opens up about checking out on McLaren during Dutch Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso has provided insight into his decision to scrutinize Oscar Piastri's McLaren after the Dutch Grand Prix, highlighting his admiration for the car’s design and performance. The two-time World Champion was seen on his onboard camera examining the MCL38, McLaren's latest machine, which had just secured a dominant victory with Lando Norris at the wheel.

Norris's win at Zandvoort marked McLaren's third triumph of the 2024 season, achieved with a remarkable 22.8-second lead—the largest margin of victory so far this year. This impressive performance followed McLaren’s significant upgrade package, introduced since the Miami Grand Prix. The updates included modifications to the rear wing, beam wing, brakes, suspension, and floor, elements critical for optimizing downforce under the current ground-effect regulations.

Alonso’s curiosity about the McLaren was captured in untelevised footage, where he was seen closely inspecting the rear and the underfloor of Piastri's car. Reflecting on this, Alonso expressed his intention for Aston Martin to draw inspiration from McLaren's advancements. He remarked, “It’s the car that dominates the championship right now. You always try to take inspiration from the cars that are winning, so we have a lot to learn from them.”

Here is the video:

Inspector Alonso reporting for duty 🕵️‍♂️#F1 #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/ZNgYWZ9wfe

— Formula 1 (@F1) August 25, 2024

Fernando Alonso opens up about his race

Despite his interest in McLaren’s success, Alonso's performance at Zandvoort was a mixed bag. Finishing 10th, he achieved a second consecutive points finish but was disappointed to drop from his initial seventh position on the grid.

The Aston Martin driver noted the team's ongoing struggles with development and the competitive midfield battle. “With the four teams so far ahead of the rest, we always fight to be P9 and P10,” Alonso said. He acknowledged that Aston Martin’s pace remains “a bit weak again” and that the team’s current position in the midfield is a challenge.

Alonso’s light-hearted prediction about Aston Martin’s prospects for the rest of the season—suggesting that they might remain in the lower midfield positions—highlighted his realistic approach to the ongoing campaign. “Not only do I have experience, but I can also read the future!” he joked, referring to the team’s anticipated performance at upcoming races like Monza and beyond.