Fernando Alonso isn’t hiding and is already dreaming of a podium finish this season. It was unthinkable at the start of the season when Aston Martin brought one of the worst cars on the grid to the world championship. The goal for the season became to improve the car enough so that it wouldn’t be an embarrassing year, but there was no intention of improving the car beyond that. However, the arrival of Adrian Newey changed everything.
Aston Martin’s initial plan
Aston Martin was clear from the start of the season that this would be a transition year. The team’s goal was to spend as few resources as possible this season, and the idea, given the start of the year, was to bring a package of updates for the first races in Europe, Monza, Monaco, and Spain. This package arrived, and it is the one Aston Martin has been using since then, and Fernando Alonso’s results have been clearly superior.
But the team’s initial plan was changed by Adrian Newey, a born worker who cannot sit still, and his desire to be the best changed the trend within the team. From the outset, he identified some basic problems with the AMR25, and his presence at the Monaco Grand Prix was decisive. What did he do? What he does best: look at cars and make notes in his famous notebook. His charisma and respect allow him to walk around the paddock as if it were his home, and he walked from garage to garage observing each car, noting the best ones, enough for him to give the team a boost.
Adrian Newey’s changes
It was then that Adrian Newey confirmed what he had seen since his arrival, how he could introduce those small changes to improve the AMR25. It was he who announced, on his own initiative, that there would be updates at Silverstone. He already had something in the works, and that day he confirmed it.
Since then, there have been hints that there would be updates, but nothing has been officially confirmed by Aston Martin.
Fernando Alonso’s enthusiasm
This explains the enthusiasm of Fernando Alonso, who has managed to get the best performance out of the AMR25 and has regained his smile and competitive spirit. In the last race, he not only reconfirmed that there will be improvements at Silverstone, but also at Spa three weeks later. The team will continue to test things in the wind tunnel, small things, but things that will improve performance. That’s why Fernando Alonso dared to say publicly a word that was unthinkable at the start of the season: “podium.” The possibility of him getting on the podium this year could become a reality, and the man from Oviedo knows it. He is confident and believes that the team can do better in the next few races.
Adrian Newey has moved to Aston Martin, and he is helping with the AMR25, not much because his goal is 2026, but enough for Fernando Alonso to take the car as high as possible. The new era of Aston Martin has begun, the goal remains next season, but if they manage to take the step this year, it will be key to being able to fight for their goals next year.
Fernando Alonso is not only motivated by good results, he is motivated because he sees the direction the team is taking. The direction of a team that can give him a chance to fight for victories again.