Fernando Alonso, from the Aston Martin F1 Team AMR24, showed a strong performance in qualifying during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah. Aston Martin’s Performance Director, Tom McCullough, attributed Alonso’s success to the advances made in developing the DRS system on the AMR24, drawing inspiration from Red Bull’s achievements in this area.
Last year, Red Bull consistently demonstrated remarkable efficiency with their DRS, allowing them to effectively utilize the overtaking tool compared to their competitors. Recognizing the need for improvement, Aston Martin focused on enhancing the capabilities of the AMR24’s DRS, building upon the previous year’s AMR23. Qualifying data from the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in the last two Saudi Arabian GPs indicate that the Silverstone-based team did indeed succeed in this endeavor.
Alonso’s qualifying time for third place on the grid in 2023 was 1:28.730, and this year, he improved to 1:27.846, securing fourth position. McCullough emphasized the team’s dedication to improving the efficiency of the car and the impact of the DRS system, stating: “The car’s efficiency and the effect of the DRS is something we worked on a lot last year.” He further highlighted the significant time gained as a result of the enhanced DRS effect, with Alonso’s lap being 8.5 tenths faster compared to the previous year.
The enhanced DRS effect is particularly noticeable in high-speed corners and on straights where the DRS can be used. The team’s strong DRS effect proved advantageous during qualifying, as there are three straights in Jeddah where the DRS can be utilized, resulting in substantial time gains. McCullough credited this as one of the reasons for the successful qualifying performance.
Although Aston Martin took inspiration from Red Bull’s DRS package, McCullough emphasized that their focus extends beyond that aspect. Developing the AMR24 as a complete machine has been a key priority for the team. McCullough pointed to McLaren’s impressive turnaround in the middle of the 2023 season as an example of what can be achieved through continuous development. He expressed the team’s commitment to creating a solid foundation for further progress, stating: “That has been the focus during the winter, creating a good platform for us to build on. We don’t want to stand still, nobody stands still.”
