With no time to rest, this weekend sees the return of Formula 1 racing with the Monaco Grand Prix, which couldn’t have come at a better time for Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin, who are dreaming of achieving something big in this race. We’re talking about one of the Oviedo driver’s favorite circuits, but the reality is that the Monte Carlo circuit is not suited to the performance of the AMR25.
Monaco Grand Prix, a different circuit
The Monaco F1 Grand Prix is here, one of the most eagerly awaited weekends, especially for the glamour and history that this race exudes on the streets of Monte Carlo. We are talking about the slowest circuit of the season, a circuit that does not allow drivers to make mistakes, a circuit where the quality of the driver is far above the performance of the car, a circuit that invites the most talented drivers who do not have the best car to fight for victories on a regular basis to dream.
A goal for Fernando Alonso
The race couldn’t come at a better time for Aston Martin and Fernando Alonso. After the improvements confirmed at the Italian Grand Prix, they hope that Fernando Alonso’s quality will allow them to score a good number of points this coming Sunday. Given the AMR25’s shortcomings in slow corners, it is normal to expect Alonso to qualify for Q3 on Saturday and dream again of a position between fifth and seventh.
To begin with, Aston Martin still has a major weakness in the AMR25, slow corners, and Monaco is full of them, but as we have said, the Monte Carlo track is different from the rest, and the quality of the drivers can make all the difference. And there are no hands like Fernando’s on the entire grid.
Aston Martin improvements
After a disappointing start to the season, Aston Martin managed to take a step forward at the F1 Imola Grand Prix: Saturday’s qualifying session was proof of this, with Fernando Alonso achieving an unthinkable fifth place and his teammate Stroll finishing eighth, proving that the great result was not due to a miraculous lap by the Spaniard. However, everything that could go wrong on Sunday did go wrong, and Fernando Alonso was relegated to eleventh place, while Stroll finished fifteenth.
The feelings after the race were very bittersweet. On the one hand, Aston Martin was able to show that they are back in the fight, but the bad luck experienced on the Italian track overshadowed the improvements shown.
Another victory for Fernando Alonso?
May 12 marked 12 years since Fernando Alonso’s last victory in F1. He achieved it with Ferrari at the Valencia circuit, and since then, he has not been able to climb to the top of the podium. It will be very difficult for Fernando Alonso to achieve a victory this season, as the car is still worse than many on the grid. At the Monaco Grand Prix, only a crazy qualifying session and race could produce this result, but the new regulations for this circuit, with two mandatory stops for all drivers, and the possible incidents that could occur, could turn the race upside down.
Aston Martin’s improvements give cause for optimism. Finishing in the points is a real option for the Oviedo driver in Monaco. The car is there, and its quality remains beyond doubt despite the fact that he is approaching 44 years of age. But for him to get on the podium, a lot of things have to go right for Aston Martin.
And these won’t be the last improvements from Aston Martin. Andy Cowell, CEO of the team, confirmed after the Imola race that they will bring updates to Barcelona. Not only will there be the mandatory wing change, but there will also be new parts that could further boost the AMR25. We’ll see if these updates have the same effect as the latest ones introduced in Italy.