Aston Martin’s first day of testing had its ups and downs. While the team’s performance and overall feeling were exceptional, the day was marred by a series of sensor failures, which resulted in Aston Martin completing the least amount of track time among all teams.
Aston Martin Regains Hope
If there was one clear takeaway from the first day of testing, it was that Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin has significantly improved in cornering. Telemetry data shows that the AMR25’s cornering speed is now on par with McLaren and Ferrari—a major shift from 2024, when it was one of the worst cars in this regard.
In the early stages of the session, Aston Martin ran without issues, and Fernando Alonso topped the timesheets multiple times. However, as the session progressed, his lap count decreased compared to other drivers.
As the track conditions improved, other drivers were able to set faster lap times, but Aston Martin couldn’t take advantage due to their reduced track time. As a result, at the end of the two sessions, Alonso and Stroll’s times were among the slowest of the day—not due to a lack of performance, but simply because they were unable to drive under the same conditions as their rivals.
McLaren Sabotaging Aston Martin?
At first, Aston Martin played down the issues, with no apparent concern in the garage. However, new details have emerged, raising eyebrows about the source of the sensor failures.
It turns out that the issue was not a direct fault of the team. The failed sensors belonged to McLaren Electronics—an interesting coincidence, to say the least.
In any case, the problem appears to be easy to fix, and it remains to be seen how the team will respond in the upcoming test sessions in Bahrain.
Fernando Alonso’s Encouraging First Impressions
Despite the technical setbacks, Aston Martin remains optimistic about the potential of the AMR25. As previously mentioned, Fernando Alonso managed to set competitive times before the issues forced the team to cut his session short.
One of the key takeaways is that the car has noticeable understeer—a characteristic that Alonso prefers. However, the Spanish driver has pointed out a few issues, including discomfort with the cockpit interior and the brake pedal positioning. Additionally, he noted that the car’s behavior on track differs slightly from its simulator performance.
Another critical area for improvement is tire degradation, which was a major weakness for Aston Martin in 2024. The team is not satisfied with the current tire wear levels, as they seem higher than expected, but they remain hopeful that adjustments can be made before the season kicks off on Sunday, March 16.
A Step Forward for Aston Martin, but How Far Can They Go?
The AMR25 is showing great potential. Once the sensor issue was identified, it was a relief for the entire team—knowing that the problem was external and has a straightforward fix.
Now, the real test begins: How will Aston Martin perform in the upcoming sessions? The car has clearly improved, but is it enough to bring Fernando Alonso into podium contention? Or will the team need to look ahead to 2026, when the new regulations could offer a fresh opportunity to fight at the front?
For now, the excitement remains, and all eyes will be on Aston Martin’s next steps in Bahrain.