After a disappointing and even catastrophic start to the season, Aston Martin brought a significant package of improvements to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which was completed a few weeks later in Barcelona. A series of updates have allowed Fernando Alonso to consistently fight for the top five spots on the grid and for points every Sunday.
Aston Martin and Alonso can now fight
And it is precisely in those two races, the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona and the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, that Alonso’s fans have been delighted. And not only because both races confirmed that the improvement is real and that the team can now fight for more ambitious goals.
But also because the two circuits are very different, as were Monaco and Imola. It is also here that, although the Asturian had quite a few complications in scoring his first points of the year (it was not until his home race, the ninth round of the championship), he has now established himself with an Aston Martin that is showing more signs that, with sufficient progress, it can be in other fights. For example, in Montreal, Aston Martin became the best team in the midfield; the best of the rest of the top four that share the podiums and victories.
Alonso maximizes Aston Martin’s options
However, it is worth noting that Alonso has managed to be in Q3 in every race since Imola, four in a row. And in Canada, the Spaniard finished in the points for the second Grand Prix in a row. This is an interesting achievement considering where they were just two months ago.
But on the other side of the garage, Lance Stroll has barely shown any performance. He hasn’t even come close to Alonso. And it’s not because the car wasn’t capable, as he did make it into Q3 in Emilia-Romagna (where he was eighth and Alonso fifth in qualifying). But since then—except for Barcelona, where he didn’t compete due to a wrist injury—he hasn’t managed to finish in the top 10 again.
It is in light of this that it seems clear that there is one driver who has managed to maximize and take advantage of what the AMR25 has to offer. Andy Cowell, team principal of the Silverstone-based team, wanted to emphasize this point. Because, even though the car has grown and improved in many of the weaknesses of this Aston Martin, as Alonso himself explained, the team leader maintains that the Asturian makes the difference in getting more out of the car with his performances.
“Fernando has found a way to get great performance”
He said so in an interview with the newspaper AS: “Fernando has found a way to get great performance in qualifying. We still have a difficult car to drive.“ The Asturian has managed to finish in the points in two consecutive races and is closing the gap on his teammate.
”The Imola package has helped us, and it also helps us understand the car better. With the approach of the factory and the circuit, plus the improvement, there is help. But Fernando has managed to get even more out of it,” he said.
Cowell, for his part, says that Alonso regained some of his smile last weekend: “Fernando went flat out on the medium at the start and held off Lewis’ DRS for several laps. That was important. Then he fought back, and I think he enjoyed overtaking in the second and third parts of the race.”
The next step is to close the gap to the front-running cars
There are things that have evolved compared to the first few races: “We have more load in all the corners, which helps. There is less distraction when it comes to assessing which parts to put on the car from practice, it’s a matter of refining what you already have, which is how a Grand Prix weekend should always be,” he concluded.
Aston Martin has taken a notable step forward, and it shows. The feeling within the team is positive, and at Silverstone they continue to work to improve further. The goal is none other than to be able to consistently lead the midfield, as they did in Canada. Something that seemed impossible at the beginning of the year now seems to be getting closer, although there is still a long way to go. As Newey said, work continues on the AMR25. Another improvement will be made to this year’s car for Silverstone, which they hope will continue the leap in quality they made in May with the new developments at Imola.
Alonso, for his part, is aware that Aston Martin is on a positive streak and is encouraging them to keep working to close the gap with the top four, which is still too big. However, the Spaniard has made it clear at all times that the 2026 project is an absolute priority, and he is not going to change his mind in that regard.