Despite scoring only 89 points during this period, Alonso managed to maintain fourth position in the standings, while Aston Martin dropped to fifth place in the team rankings.
Alonso came close to winning the Monaco Grand Prix and finished second in Canada. After the race in Montreal, he was in third place in the drivers’ standings with 117 points, and his team occupied the same position in the constructors’ standings, behind Red Bull and Mercedes.
However, in the following 14 races, the two-time world champion only managed to finish in the top three twice. Despite scoring only 89 points during this period, Alonso still held fourth position in the standings, but Aston Martin dropped to fifth place in the team rankings.
The main problem was that Aston Martin was being surpassed by its competitors. McLaren, in particular, made an impressive comeback after starting the year at the back of the grid.
Earlier this year, Aston Martin had a good start despite not winning any trophies. Alonso and his teammate Lance Stroll achieved three top-six results in the first four events.
However, the Silverstone-based team is facing a worrying trend now. They have only scored four points in the last three weekends and, for the first time this season, none of their cars finished in the top ten in Monaco.
Aston Martin had hoped to challenge Red Bull this season, following the example of Ferrari and McLaren in recent races. Instead, they find themselves 140 points behind the top three and increasingly distant from Mercedes in fourth place, with a 52-point difference.
Now they need to keep an eye on the Red Bull junior team, AlphaTauri, as Yuki Tsunoda’s strong performances are closing the gap.
In response, it is expected that Lance Stroll will take action. Journalist Leo Turrini reported in QN Motori that there will be a change in the team principal position soon.
Mike Krack is likely to be replaced, with Stroll in contact with former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto. Krack, who took over from Otmar Szafnauer in early 2022 and oversaw significant improvements, is facing concerns from the team owner about the current direction.
Binotto, who spent three years as Ferrari team principal, led them to six race victories and briefly challenged Red Bull for the title in 2022 before costly strategic errors.
Stroll’s ambitions are clear. He intends to turn Aston Martin into a winning racing team and eventually F1 champion. He has his eye on the 2026 regulatory changes and has already secured an exclusive engine deal with Honda.
After securing star driver Alonso, Stroll wants to assemble a top-notch team. He has offered a substantial salary to renowned designer Adrian Newey, who will be leaving Red Bull next year.
While it is likely that Newey will join Ferrari, this could create an opportunity for Stroll. He hopes to hire Ferrari’s technical director, Enrico Cardile, who may be unsettled by Newey’s arrival.
