As the year 2025 revs up, all eyes are on Formula 1 and in particular, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard has set his sights on a successful season with Aston Martin, drawing inspiration from the team’s trials and tribulations during the 2024 season. Armed with the lessons from their past experiences, Alonso and the team are adamant about remaining competitive throughout the year.
2024 served as a rollercoaster ride for Aston Martin, with soaring highs and plummeting lows. The team emerged as a force to be reckoned with at the start of 2023, posing a formidable challenge to Red Bull. However, as the season progressed, Aston Martin’s performance waned as teams such as McLaren and Mercedes outpaced them in car development. Despite setting out to rectify these shortcomings in 2024, Aston Martin found it difficult to maintain their initial momentum.
However, Alonso, a veteran of F1 racing, views these struggles as stepping stones to a stronger future. He said, “Every season imparts a lesson, and 2024 was no different. We recognized our limitations and have been relentless in our efforts to prevent a recurrence of the same blunders.”
As they approach 2025, Aston Martin is making concerted efforts to enhance vital aspects of car development. One of the glaring issues in 2024 was their lack of adaptability—despite kicking off the season on a high note, the team found it challenging to introduce upgrades that would keep them competitive. Acknowledging this, Technical Director Dan Fallows stated that they have refined their upgrade strategy for the 2025 season.
He explained, “In modern F1, continuous development is vital. We’ve endeavored to ensure our upgrade packages are both potent and consistent throughout the season.”
Aerodynamic efficiency is another area that Aston Martin is focusing on. In 2024, the team grappled with high-speed circuits where drag posed a significant hurdle. To address this, Aston Martin has been utilizing the wind tunnel extensively to improve the balance between downforce and straight-line speed, a domain where Red Bull has consistently shone.
At 43, Fernando Alonso continues to be one of the most driven competitors on the grid. His leadership and experience have been instrumental in Aston Martin’s journey towards becoming a championship-contending team. Alonso’s commitment to making the AMR25 a formidable contender is unwavering.
He said, “At the moment, my sole objective is to ensure we are battling at the front. I am entirely dedicated to propelling this team forward.”
His insights and comprehensive understanding of car development have been pivotal in steering Aston Martin’s technical trajectory. Team Principal Mike Krack lauded Alonso’s influence, describing him as an integral part of the team’s progress.
Despite significant progress since their rebranding in 2021, Aston Martin is yet to clinch their first race win. The dominance of Red Bull, along with the robust development of Mercedes and Ferrari, makes breaking into the top tier a daunting task. Still, Alonso is confident that Aston Martin has the potential to be a formidable adversary in 2025.
With winter testing imminent, the anticipation around the AMR25 and its capabilities is palpable. Aston Martin’s investments in its infrastructure, including a new, cutting-edge factory, are expected to contribute significantly to their long-term growth. If the team has indeed learned from 2024’s challenges, 2025 could see them establish themselves as a dominant force in Formula 1 – with Alonso leading the charge.
