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The 2023 Formula One season will be remembered for many things.
In twenty-two Grands Prix across the globe, ten teams battled relentlessly for glory, with repeated displays of breathtaking power, technical mastery and records broken.
For us at Citi Private Bank, many of our favorite moments came courtesy of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team.
Longtime Private Bank brand ambassador Fernando brought his customary magic to every race, delighting fans with his skill, passion and determination throughout.
Team-mate Lance showed grit and determination to quickly bounce back from a pre-season injury and finished the campaign strongly, with two consecutive P5 finishes in its latter stages.
We sat down with Fernando and Lance to get the inside track on 2023 and what they’re aiming for in 2024.
What is your standout race from the season?
Fernando Alonso: I would say either our first podium in Bahrain or the third place in Brazil. The result in Bahrain was a real surprise for us heading into the season and a real gift after a successful winter. Brazil was a great team result toward the end of the season, which will hopefully provide a good springboard for 2024. Monaco was also a great race and it’s always special to compete there.
Lance Stroll: The standout race for me was Bahrain. I’m proud of my comeback from injury getting back in the car so soon and then finishing P6.
What are some of the moments that showed the team’s strength?
Fernando Alonso: This year, the team demonstrated that we never give up. There is a great energy about the team and a real desire to keep improving. We had some ups and downs this season, but we’ve learned a lot going into 2024.
Lance Stroll: Our season overall has proved our strength. We’re a team to be taken seriously: we’re making real progress and are focused on achieving our long-term ambitions.
This year, the team demonstrated that we never give up.
What were some challenging moments and how did you work as team to overcome these?
Fernando Alonso: There were moments in the second half of the season that were particularly tricky. We looked at the bigger picture and experimented with the car and that allowed us to have a stronger end to the year.
Lance Stroll: The second half of the season was more challenging as other teams made significant gains. But we stayed close as a team, kept working hard to improve the car and bounced back powerfully in the final races.
How important is teamwork and collaboration in Formula One?
Fernando Alonso: Working as a team is critical in any walk of life and Formula One is no different. I only joined at the start of 2023, but our teamwork has been tremendous, both on the track and at the AMR Technology Campus in Silverstone.
Lance Stroll: Collaboration is the most important aspect of Formula One. It’s a team sport from design to building the car to racing it at the track. Everybody has the same goal. Without that ethic in the team, we would not have had such a strong season, our most successful one to date.
Were there any surprises that defined the season?
Fernando Alonso: If there was anything, it would be having performed well at a couple of races where we did not necessarily expect it, and the reversals at some races where we expected to do better. This helped us learn more about our car and identify key strengths and weaknesses.
Lance Stroll: There isn’t anything specific. Others may have been surprised by our performance at the start of the season, but we were quietly confident in our abilities and the work that we’d put into the AMR23.
What are your goals for next season?
Fernando Alonso: If we can continue to push towards the front, to be even closer to the head of the field, it will be a very good 2024. To do that, we all must continue to build on what we have learned this year.
Lance Stroll: To keep pushing, keep developing, keep improving. We’re focused on our long-term ambitions – fighting for regular points, podiums and our first win as a team.
From all of us at Citi Private Bank, our warmest congratulations to Aston Martin F1® Team for the inspiration and entertainment they’ve provided in 2023. We can’t wait to see what they do in 2024.
