Aston Martin has already unveiled its new upgrade package for the F1 Imola Grand Prix. Its actual performance cannot be measured until Saturday’s qualifying session. There are many things to test—among other things, only Stroll tested them on Friday—many teams are debuting upgrades, and the best configuration must be found to know how much the upgrades are worth. The truth is that Aston Martin is debuting new parts, analyzed and refined with the new tools at its new factory in Silverstone. But new information has been released about where these new parts have been configured on the AMR25.
The upgrades for Aston Martin
Improvements or not: in recent years, every time Aston Martin has introduced improvements to the car, the effect has been the opposite, leaving things the same or making them worse. That is why the team is cautious about this new package, which mainly affects the flat floor and aerodynamics of the AMR25.
The team is confident, they have to improve if they don’t want to remain one of the worst teams on the grid in 2025, and they have high hopes for this package because, as Aston Martin has acknowledged, they are not only looking to optimize the AMR25, but also to begin configuration of the AMR26, with which Aston Martin hopes to be able to compete with the best next season.
Evolution in the factory
The new upgrade package bears the hallmark of Aston Martin’s new factory at Silverstone. The new parts have been validated by the engineering team, including Adrian Newey, and have passed the wind tunnel test, the latest in technology.
However, it has been revealed that the actual origin of this new package was not created in the Aston Martin wind tunnel, but rather in the Mercedes wind tunnel, the same one used by the team in recent years. It is true that the final review did pass the filter of their new tool, but the initial design took place at the Mercedes factory.
Alonso, confident and cautious
Fernando Alonso is confident that the team can take a step forward with the new improvements.
“I don’t think there’s any pressure to analyze the new package in depth, because it has to deliver results, yes or yes, and we have to integrate it into the car, yes or yes.”
But on the other hand, he is aware that in recent years, the updates have not delivered the expected performance.
“Look, I think that every time an improvement is introduced to the car, the team is always optimistic, but at the same time, we’ve learned a lot from the improvements over the last two years, in that they haven’t exactly delivered what was expected.”
Aston Martin already has the first improvements of the season, Stroll has already tested them, but the real impact they may have will not be known until the real battle begins in Saturday’s qualifying, which will be a good way to measure how much they have improved and how much their competitors have improved.
Aston Martin has a lot at stake in this race. The outcome of the upgrades will set the tone for the season for Aston Martin and Fernando Alonso, who know they cannot aspire to much but want to stop being one of the worst teams on the grid.