Formula 1 never rests, and this weekend sees the third consecutive race, the fifth of the F1 World Championship, and Aston Martin has a good opportunity to improve on its poor results so far this season. With Fernando Alonso at the wheel, they hope the car will perform better and give the fans something to cheer about.
A favorable circuit for Aston Martin
The Jeddah circuit is one of the circuits that best suits the characteristics of the AMR25: we are talking about one of the fastest circuits in the championship, with high-speed corners that are ideal for getting the most out of Fernando Alonso’s car. Fernando Alonso himself has been optimistic in the run-up to the race.
“The first few weekends have been tough. We’ve had challenges with the cars, but the high speed at Jeddah should suit us better.”
On the other hand, the expected temperatures for the weekend also seem ideal for the AMR25, and the three practice sessions will have similar conditions to Sunday’s qualifying and race. This will give them more leeway to find the best setup.
“We are still discovering the car and some of its weaknesses.” ”We will be able to use free practice 1, 2, and 3 to maximize the car.”
Goals for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Aston Martin will be a better car in this race, but there are no miracles in F1. It is true that some teams that were ahead will do worse on this circuit and others will do better, and given the equality of the grid, we could see Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin fighting for midfield positions.
It is not unreasonable to think that Fernando Alonso could make it into Q3, as long as he sets a perfect lap. That and the points are the goal, a very ambitious goal, but one that would certainly be a source of motivation for a season that has started in the worst possible way for Silverstone and Fernando Alonso.
Less encouraging is the performance that Lance Stroll can offer. He is expected to gain some positions compared to the last few Grand Prix races, but Aston Martin sees it as almost impossible for him to make it into Q3, let alone score points.
High probability of Safety Car
Race incidents could be a trump card for Fernando Alonso. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, an urban circuit that is nevertheless the fastest in the F1 World Championship, has a high probability of a safety car. In the last four years that the race has been held at the Jeddah circuit, the Safety Car has made an appearance, and in 2021 it had to come out twice.
The Safety Car is always a lottery, but if it comes out at the right time, it could allow Fernando Alonso to gain positions on the final grid and get into the points. This is a necessity for the Spaniard, who is still without a point this season.
Aston Martin has had a very disappointing start to the season and the team is looking to turn things around. Although Aston Martin has not yet received the first upgrades and updates of the season, the Jeddah circuit is the one that best suits its characteristics so far this season. This gives cause for hope and to see if Fernando Alonso can complete a race and finish in the points. It would be a good starting point considering that for the next race, the Miami Grand Prix, Aston Martin will be able to incorporate the first upgrades to the car.