Aston Martin had an excellent start to the 2023 season when two-time world champion Fernando Alonso stepped on the podium five times in the opening eight races. However, after the poor development of their car, Aston Martin only recorded another two podiums that season.
When they were expected to step up and challenge Red Bull at the top of the standings in 2024, Aston Martin stalled out. Both drivers were only challenging for the lower points. This was disappointing for the British Green Team as they had failed to progress. Looking into their pre-season testing, it looks as though the Silverstone-based team has regressed further.
Aston Martin has work to do
Although Aston Martin finished a clear fifth in the constructors’ championship last season, that was due to them scoring points early on; towards the end of the season, they were sometimes one of the slowest teams on the grid.
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In the final race in Abu Dhabi, Fernando Alonso finished ninth, 82 seconds off the lead. Teammate Lance Stroll finished a lap down in fourteenth. The car simply wasn’t fast, and it looks as though the team have made little progress. Alonso likened the AM25 to its predecessor, saying: “Things look similar to Abu Dhabi last year.”
His damming verdict will lead to further frustrations for Aston Martin, who has recruited well. However, Aston Martin’s new hires, Adrian Newey and Enrico Cardile, will be focusing more on the 2026 challenger, not correcting the 2025 model.
Are Aston Martin sandbagging?
Aston Martin could have been sandbagging the times in pre-season testing. This is when teams don’t show their true pace. Team members will also make statements to persuade others to believe their car is slow.
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The Silverstone-based team produced worrying data during the test sessions in Bahrain, with the drivers unhappy with the car. The cars were sliding, and rear instability was hindering the driver’s progress. The times posted were slower than their midfield rivals, and it looks like the pace is slower than the 2024 car.
This does not look like a team sandbagging. Alonso warned his team that the first few races could look like Abu Dhabi last year. The team needs to develop the AM25 to have a chance of competing further up the grid.
