Fernando Alonso has thrown down the gauntlet at Aston Martin, urging the team to emulate McLaren’s remarkable resurgence in Formula 1. After a lackluster 2024 campaign that saw Aston Martin slide to fifth in the Constructors’ standings, Alonso believes McLaren’s meteoric rise from 2023’s backmarkers to 2024 World Champions provides a valuable roadmap for recovery.
McLaren’s Meteoric Rise: A Playbook for Aston Martin?
The contrast between Aston Martin’s stagnation and McLaren’s ascension couldn’t be starker. McLaren, which started the 2023 season mired in last place, turned its fortunes around with a game-changing upgrade package introduced at the Austrian Grand Prix. That package set the stage for a dominant 2024 campaign, capped off with their first Constructors’ title in 26 years.
For Aston Martin, which showed early promise in 2023 with Alonso securing six podiums in the first eight races, the decline has been sharp. By the end of 2024, they lagged a staggering 572 points behind McLaren, raising questions about their mid-season development capabilities.
Speaking candidly about McLaren’s progress, Alonso remarked:
“They started last [in 2023] and then won races in the mid-season, and we need to learn from them. This is a good example of how things can be done.”
Alonso highlighted McLaren’s Austrian upgrade as a pivotal moment, adding:
“That Austria package, if we want to call it that, is something we need to work on. They gained six, seven-tenths or whatever, and that was the beginning of a series of packages that put their car as the fastest.”
2025: A Bridge to the Future or Another Struggle?
With 2025 marking the final year of the current ground-effect regulations, Aston Martin faces an uphill battle to close the gap to the leading quartet of McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes. However, Alonso remains cautiously optimistic about the future, pointing to the team’s structural upgrades and regulatory advantages.
One key asset in Aston Martin’s arsenal is the Aerodynamic Testing Restrictions (ATR). Based on the order at mid-season, Aston Martin is set to enjoy 192 more wind tunnel runs than McLaren in the lead-up to the 2026 regulations. These extra resources could prove pivotal as teams begin developing their next-generation cars next month.
“We can reset, we can learn from all the difficulties and mistakes of this year and apply those learnings into next year’s project,” Alonso said.
He also pointed to the team’s long-term vision:
“The new factory is now completed, also the new wind tunnel is going to be open soon. Andy Cowell has already changed some of the weaknesses that he found in the team. Things are moving in the right direction, so I’m happy for that.”
Patience in a Sport That Demands Miracles
Despite the optimism, Alonso acknowledged the harsh realities of Formula 1, emphasizing that success requires more than just hope.
“In Formula 1, there are not many miracles – you need to be patient, you need to find that sweet spot in the car, you need to find that upgrade that really awakens everything in these ground-effect cars,” he explained.
Alonso’s measured tone reflects his understanding of the uphill battle ahead. While 2025 might not deliver instant results, the two-time World Champion is counting on Aston Martin’s revamped infrastructure, leadership changes, and ATR advantages to lay the foundation for a competitive 2026 campaign under the new regulations.
Will Aston Martin Rise Again?
Aston Martin’s 2024 struggles have exposed critical weaknesses in mid-season development, but McLaren’s turnaround offers a blueprint for redemption. As Alonso’s patience and leadership continue to guide the team, all eyes will be on how effectively Aston Martin leverages its resources to regain its footing in Formula 1.
With 2025 shaping up as a crucial transitional year, the question remains: can Aston Martin replicate McLaren’s playbook and transform its promise into performance?