Aston Martin could be in for another tough Formula 1 season if we go by their form in pre-season testing.
The team is hopeful that the AMR25 will produce a step forward after a difficult 2024, in which they finished fifth in the Constructors’ Championship and only scored 94 points.
Fernando Alonso set the quickest time between the two Aston Martin drivers in testing, going 11th fastest on day two after completing 45 laps.
Aston Martin ended the three days at the Bahrain International Circuit having only completed 306 laps, which is two more than Red Bull who completed the least out of every team. It did not help that both Alonso and Lance Stroll were unwell, with the latter having to pull out of the last hours of the third day and be replaced by the Spaniard.
The early verdict is that Aston Martin has fixed the problems that Alonso raised, with the team also boasting an aerodynamic package that is ‘100% new’ according to team principal Andy Cowell. But they have one complicated factor according to Alonso, when speaking to Soy Motor.
Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin faces ‘complicated’ situation with 2025 car
Aston Martin is expected to be roughly fighting in the midfield this year, having slipped back to the positions outside of the points in the final races of 2024.
It spent much of those races attempting to rectify their problems, having run back-to-back versions of their floor between Alonso and Lance Stroll. Alonso expects another tough start for the team as they try to get to grips with everything.
“It’s a complicated situation for everyone, so I’ve tried to be more relaxed, not just because of my feelings in the car,” said Alonso.
“I think we have reached a point in the development of the car where it is quite complicated to add downforce without adding any difficulty to the driving of the car. But we’re pretty good with correlation and stuff. And the same with the laps.”
Aston Martin exploits key area no other team has with 2025 car
While Aston Martin spent some of the most amount of time in the garage with the AMR25, they did have one development that caught the eye of F1 technical experts.
Aston Martin has exploited a key area around the Halo that no team has done yet, with cooling ducts just below where the titanium structure connects to the chassis.
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The inlet is almost impossible to see and isn’t something that is featured on any other car on the grid, including the Red Bull.
It is unlikely the development is a result of Adrian Newey, who only starts work with the team this month, but it is encouraging to see they are finding areas of performance.
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