Aston Martin isn’t just aiming for podiums anymore—they want a championship.
After watching McLaren’s meteoric rise from midfield misery to Constructors’ Champions, Aston Martin boss Mike Cowell has made it clear: they can do it too.
The question is—can they actually pull it off?
The McLaren Blueprint: From Struggles to Glory
To understand Aston Martin’s ambitions, you have to look at McLaren’s extraordinary turnaround.
- At the start of 2023, McLaren was a disaster, barely scraping points.
- Midway through the season, everything changed—a massive upgrade package transformed them into one of Red Bull’s biggest threats.
- By 2024, they overtook Ferrari and Red Bull, securing the Constructors’ Championship.
While McLaren soared, Aston Martin crumbled.
At the start of 2023, Fernando Alonso was Red Bull’s closest challenger, scoring six podiums in the first eight races. But instead of building on that momentum, Aston Martin faded into oblivion.
By the end of 2024, the numbers were brutal:
🔻 22 points behind McLaren in 2023
🔻 572 points behind McLaren in 2024
The contrast couldn’t be more glaring—one team figured out the formula for success, while the other fell off a cliff.
Cowell: “Why Can’t We?”
But Mike Cowell refuses to accept failure.
In an explosive statement, the newly appointed Team Principal and CEO laid down the gauntlet, insisting Aston Martin has everything it needs to mirror McLaren’s turnaround.
“Who thinks we can’t win the championship? Anyone? Look at what McLaren did.”
“Why can’t we? If you go for the stars, you’ll get the trees out of the way.”
It’s a bold declaration, but it comes with a clear direction—Aston Martin isn’t interested in being a midfield team anymore. They want to be title contenders.
The Key to Success? Engineering Leadership
One of McLaren’s biggest weapons in its transformation was Andrea Stella, a technical mastermind who took over when Andreas Seidl departed.
Stella’s engineering-first approach revolutionized McLaren, proving that the right leadership can change everything.
Cowell is taking notes.
“Their turnaround was incredible.”
“I think it’s down to engineering leadership, and it’s something we can do.”
That’s why Aston Martin is restructuring, ensuring the right people are in the right places—because, as Cowell puts it:
“We put the right people on the most important job. Usually, when you work hard, good results come.”
Can Aston Martin Pull Off a McLaren-Style Comeback?
Let’s be real—Aston Martin has a long way to go.
While McLaren has already proven they can challenge Red Bull and Ferrari, Aston Martin is stuck trying to figure out what went wrong.
But if Cowell is serious, and if Aston Martin gets its upgrades right, they could shock the grid in 2025.
With Fernando Alonso still in the driver’s seat, one thing is certain—Aston Martin isn’t here to play games anymore.
They want to win, and they’re ready to fight for it.