After a below-expectations start to the season, Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin arrive in Japan with the intention of striking a blow. These two weeks of rest have not been so for the Silverstone team and the Spaniard, who have been studying in detail the mistakes made in the first two sessions in order to get the most out of the AMR25 this weekend.
Aston Martin already has the first answers
Aston Martin has a lot of work ahead of it to optimize its performance for the rest of the season, which is a lot. The new factory, the new wind tunnel, the new engineers and mechanics, Adrian Newey. The pieces are in place and they just need to mesh. It won’t be overnight, but the first results should be seen in this Japanese Grand Prix.
During these two weeks, under the magnifying glass of Adrian Newey, the data on the car collected during the preseason and in the first two races has been analyzed, and improvements have already been implemented that should represent a step forward in the performance of the AMR25. Aston Martin knows that this year’s car is much better than last season’s car. The aerodynamics have been improved, as have the stability, top speed and tire degradation. Once these key aspects had been improved, all that was needed was the data to obtain the best car configuration, and it seems that they will find the key in Japan.
Fernando Alonso, key to performance
The Japanese GP is one of the most technical and complete circuits in the F1 World Championship, with a first section full of fast and technical corners where the skill of the drivers is of great importance. In this sense, Fernando Alonso has an opportunity to show that he is still in top form, and with the good configuration of the ARM25, it is to be hoped that he can climb up the rankings and fight for the first points of the season.
The Asturian driver is fully convinced of his chances and of the work done since Silverstone, and he arrives in Japan after a break that gives him extra motivation for this GP. The first two races have raised doubts in F1 circles about Fernando Alonso‘s performance and form, and the Spanish driver knows that it is time to silence the noise surrounding him.
Adrian Newey takes the initiative
One of the main reasons for Aston Martin’s optimism is the hand of Adrian Newey. As is well known, the engineer is focused on the development of the AMR26. However, he has personally supervised the Aston Martin data collected during this season and has given clear instructions on how to optimize performance until the next improvements arrive in the form of parts for the car, scheduled for May 18 when F1 lands in Europe, specifically in Italy, at the Imola GP.
It is hoped that with his knowledge and unique vision, he will be able to guide the team to improve by a few tenths, which will allow them to take a step forward in the middle zone of the F1 classification. As Alonso said, any improvement could mean a big leap in the fight, given how close the competition is this season.
Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin arrive in Japan with renewed energy and with a better understanding of how the AMR25 behaves, and they are convinced that they can squeeze every last drop of performance from it to take an important step towards the team’s objectives for the current season.