Fernando Alonso‘s Aston Martin produced mixed results in the tests in Bahrain prior to the start of the F1 World Championship next Sunday the 16th with the Australian GP. While it is true that the AMR25 showed certain improvements in some aspects, we have questions about how it will perform in the race.
Worse race pace for Aston Martin
According to the data provided by Formula 1, the ARM25 has the worst race pace in simulation. It is true that the British team did not complete a real race simulation, but it did run several long stints where it showed some problems with tire wear and overheating of the car, which suggests, according to the test data, that Aston Martin will have difficulties when it comes to long stints in the race.
Aston Martin’s improvement in qualifying
The ARM25 improves in qualifying compared to the race simulation, but the data from Formula 1 is not very encouraging either. According to the pre-season tests, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll’s car would be the eighth car on the grid, only ahead of the Sauber and Haas. If these figures are confirmed for the start of the world championship, only the skill of the Asturian driver could save a start to the season that, a priori, does not seem to be starting as many would hope.
Just as we cannot jump for joy at some positive results during the tests, neither should we be alarmist with the negative data offered by Formula 1. Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin were satisfied with the Bahrain tests: they recognized a step forward for the AMR25 with respect to its predecessor last season. The car is faster, has very good cornering, and they believe they will be able to fight for points every weekend, although of course, Fernando Alonso himself believes that everything will have to go well (both team and driver) to achieve that goal and be able to score regularly.
Williams confirms the step forward
According to Formula 1 data, the FW47 was one of the surprises in last week’s tests in Bahrain, and race simulation data places it as the best car in the middle class. First it was Carlos Sainz who set some unexpected times (for the better), something that Alexander Albon reaffirmed on the last day of practice. We will see if Williams has been able to improve the car and fight in this middle class.
At the top, McLaren is the team that seems to have the best race pace, something that you don’t need to see in the data to realise. Lando Norris flew during his simulation, and showed his rivals that they are once again favourites for the constructors’ world championship. Ferrari wasthe second team in terms of race pace, followed by Red Bull and Mercedes in fourth place.
In qualifying there are no changes at the top, and the first car in the middle of the grid is once again the Williams of Carlos Sainz, who will have a good chance of getting into the points if he can maintain the expectations generated during practice.
The tests have thrown up some unpromising data for Fernando Alonso’s AMR 25 and positive data for Carlos Sainz’s FW47. However, Aston Martin are more optimistic than the data indicates, and believe that they will be fighting at the top of the rankings this year and have a chance of a podium finish. The Australian GP will put everyone in their place, but we must, but everything indicates that we will have a constant duel of Spaniards in every Grand Prix.