Aston Martin appeared to take a step or two back in the pecking order in Barcelona, but Fernando Alonso warns of Canadian GP upgrades that can allow them to “crush” the competition.

While Red Bull have been the definition of consistency to start the F1 2023 campaign, taking seven wins from seven races, Alonso had also been giving it a very strong shot himself, claiming podiums in five of the opening six rounds, upgrading from P3s to a P2 in Monaco.

His home race though was a tougher affair for both driver and his Aston Martin team, as their status of generally being the second-fastest team behind Red Bull was torn up by Mercedes.

Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari also had Aston Martin under control, the Spaniard finishing P5 and 18 seconds up the road from Lance Stroll, while Alonso recovered a couple of positions to P7.

Mercedes and Ferrari have both introduced major upgrade package in recent rounds, Mercedes’ new-look W14 emerging in Monaco, while Ferrari’s heavily-revised SF-23 broke cover in Spain, so it would seem that Aston Martin perhaps now have work to do to catch back up.

Alonso though appears very confident of their chances, as the team with the most wind tunnel time available anywhere in this leading cluster has some innovations of their own ready to arrive.

And Canada will be the scene where Aston Martin take a statement in this development race and go into “crush” mode, so says Alonso, and Mercedes he is looking at you especially.

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“I’m happy because qualifying was the Achilles heel of the whole weekend,” Alonso began as per SoyMotor.com.

“After starting from so far back, I was able to come back but only so far and both [George] Russell and Checo [Sergio Perez] were faster than us today, so there was a lot to do. Then we saved points.

“In terms of Constructors, it’s true that Mercedes took some important points from us, but we took points from Ferrari again.

“In Canada we will bring more stuff, in Silverstone too… It will depend on who brings the improvements. Even with a normal time, we would have been on a par with Hamilton and maybe we would have had a better chance.

“I think it’s a race and in Canada we crush them.”

With Mercedes claiming a double podium finish as Lewis Hamilton crossed the line P2 and Russell P3, Mercedes were able to boot Aston Martin out of P2 in the Constructors’ Championship, with the Brackley squad now boasting an 18-point advantage.

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