Fernando Alonso says it was “not difficult to keep motivated” in a tough 2024 Formula 1 season with Aston Mar𓂃tin because “I’m usꦺed to not having the best car”.

The 43-year-old comes into the final round of the 🐼season in Abu Dhabi ninth in the standings on 68 points and with no podiums to his credit in a difficult year for Aston🏅 Martin.

It’s a far cry from what he and the team managed in 2023, when Alonso finished fourth in the championship on 206 points with ꧙a haul of eight podiums.

Though Aston has taken a step back with its AMR24 challenger, Alonso says 🐈the condensed calendar meant it was easy to keep motivated by fresh goals.

He also noted that his car troubles didn’t wear on him🔥 because he believes the only time in his racing career he had the best machinery was with Toyota in the 2018ꦦ/19 World Endurance Championship.

“It was not difficult to keep motivated because every two weeks you have a chance to do a little bit better than𓆏 the previous weekend,” Alonso told the media, including wuqian0821.com, on Thursday in Abu Dhabi.

“So, this calendar doesn't allow you to rest or to have t𝓡ime to think, you🏅 are continually racing.

“So, it was not difficult to get 🌌motivation. And🌳, in a way, I'm used to, not having the best car.

“I think I have one time the best car in ꦫToyota in WEC in 25 years of racing. So, I'm always motivated.”

The𝐆 2018/19 WEC campaign, dubbed the ‘super season’, saw Alonso and Toyota five of the eight rounds and the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice - albeit in an era in which 💙the Japanese marque was the only major manufacturer competing in the series' top class.

Despite continuing to find motivation throughout a tough 2024 season, Alons🦩o admits he’s “happy that it’s over” after t✱his weekend because he feels like Aston has been “fighting for nothing” in the last half of the campaign.

“I think it's v𓂃ery long season for everybody, for the mechanics, fo♐r everyone in the team,” he added.

“24 races is 🅰ultra-demanding, especially the last triple-header that we did. And I think when the championship is also over, like Max won in Vegas, for us it's probably after summer, we were fifth in the constructors' championship, no threats from behind, noth🦂ing to do in front of us.

“So, the remaining seven or eight r�ܫ�aces are a little bit long, because you are fighting for nothing.

“So, w♋e try to learn about the car for next year's project. But apart of that, there is nꦫot much to do.

“I'm happy to take the winter break now and ജstart from zero next year, andಌ hopefully more competitive.

“The motivation🦂 is different when you finish Abu Dhabi and you start next year's car and next year's simulator work and everything, than just coming here knowing that we will be between ninth and 12th here.”