Two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso said his new Aston Martin team would “not be happy with second” as it tries to build toward a title challenge in future years. Alonso joins as a replacement for fellow former champion Sebastian Vettel, who retired at the end of last season.

Aston Martin was seventh in last year’s constructors’ standings with Vettel and Lance Stroll, son of the team’s executive chairman Lawrence Stroll. “We will not be happy with fourth, we will not be happy with third, we will not be happy with second. So maybe we cannot win immediately, but that’s something that we need to make sure, that this car is the baseline for future years,” Alonso said as the team launched its 2023 car.