Concerns grow for Alonso and Aston Martin as team insider reveals that morale is at an all-time low – As the new Formula One season gets underway in Melbourne, Aston Martin faces an uphill battle. Reports from inside the paddock suggest that the team is not only struggling with performance, but also with morale. Despite the usual scepticism about lap times during pre-season testing, these early sessions provide valuable insights into the competitive hierarchy heading into the first race.
Unfortunately for Aston Martin, the indicators from the Bahrain test point to a difficult start to the season. Julien Simon-Chautemps, a former engineer for Kimi Raikkonen, has painted a bleak picture of Aston Martin’s prospects after the pre-season tests. Speaking on The Race podcast, the French engineer noted that the atmosphere within the team was far from positive.
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“One of the disappointments of the tests was Aston Martin. I spoke to some people in the paddock who were there. And there were some long faces. They were not very happy,” revealed Simon-Chautemps.
His findings confirm what many observers have suspected. Aston Martin, who showed so much promise last season with Fernando Alonso regularly challenging for podiums, appear to have taken a step backwards. The team has struggled both in qualifying simulations and in race pace, a worrying sign ahead of the season opener in Australia.
Simon-Chautemps elaborated on the performance issues, saying, “They clearly don’t have the pace in qualifying or in the race.”
As a result, he expects Aston Martin to be in the bottom half of the field when the lights go out in Melbourne.
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A slow start to the season
What does this mean for the first race of the season? According to Simon-Chautemps, Aston Martin could be in for a frustrating debut, possibly battling at the back of the field rather than challenging for points.
“They are around eighth,” he estimates, suggesting that the team may struggle to break into the top ten. If his predictions are correct, it will be a stark contrast to the expectations set at the start of last season, when Aston Martin emerged as a surprise contender at the top of the grid.
The news is particularly worrying for Fernando Alonso, who had high hopes of building on last years’ rather stale team progress when compared to an astonishing 2023. Known for his relentless drive and ability to extract the maximum from his machinery, the Spaniard may find himself in a frustrating position if the car is not competitive.
Lance Stroll could also face a difficult start to the year, with the team seemingly lacking the pace to challenge their midfield rivals. With no clear signs of immediate improvement, Aston Martin may have to play the long game and look for mid-season upgrades to salvage their campaign.
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Alpine emerges as surprise package
While Aston Martin are struggling, Alpine appear to have emerged as the surprise package of the pre-season testing. According to Simon-Chautemps, the French team has consistently positioned itself at the front of the midfield battle.
“The big surprise of the tests was Alpine. They were consistently in fifth place, ahead of the rest of the midfield,” he explained.
It’s a promising development for the Enstone outfit, who have endured turbulent recent seasons in 2023 and 2024, with management changes and inconsistent performances. If Alpine can maintain their strong test form, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon could find themselves regularly battling for top-six finishes.
Furthermore, Simon-Chautemps highlighted the disparity in performance within the team, noting that Gasly appeared to have a significant edge over reserve driver Jack Doohan during the test sessions.
“There was a big difference in lap times between them,” he observed, suggesting that Gasly is in strong form heading into the new season.
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Racing Bulls and Williams look strong
Looking beyond Alpine, Simon-Chautemps also pointed to VCARB (formerly AlphaTauri) and Williams as potential contenders in the midfield battle.
“The Racing Bulls and Williams could be right behind Alpine,” he suggested, pointing out that both teams have made progress over the winter.
Williams, in particular, appear to have maintained their strength in straight-line speed, a crucial factor in Melbourne where top speed can be a strategic advantage. “They have a top speed package again that is very efficient,” said Simon-Chautemps, hinting that the team could surprise their rivals with strong race-day performances.
VCARB, meanwhile, is looking to move up the order. With an improved technical partnership with Red Bull, the team hopes to bridge the gap to the front of the midfield. If their test performance is anything to go by, they could be in contention for regular points finishes.
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Haas and Sauber bring up the rear
At the back of the field, Simon-Chautemps expects Haas and Sauber to struggle the most. However, he sees some potential for Haas to improve quickly.
“I don’t think they showed their full potential. They had some reliability problems with the engine covers. They are clearly trying to push the weight limit there,” he explained.
This suggests that Haas may have been focusing on fine-tuning their car during testing rather than chasing outright lap times. If they can resolve their reliability issues, they may be able to challenge for the lower midfield positions rather than languishing at the back.
Sauber, on the other hand, seem to have a tougher road ahead of them. The team has not been a standout performer in testing, and unless they make significant improvements at the start of the season, they could find themselves struggling to keep up.
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Tough road ahead for Aston Martin
As the grid prepares for the first race in Melbourne, Aston Martin find themselves in a precarious position. Despite a lacklustre 2024, the team had an impressive 2023 campaign that saw Alonso claim several podiums, so expectations are high for further progress. However, early signs suggest that the team may be heading in the opposite direction.
With a lack of pace in both qualifying and race trim, Aston Martin must work quickly to address its issues if it is to remain competitive. Morale within the team already seems to be suffering and without rapid improvements, frustration could grow.
For Alonso and Stroll, the season opener in Australia will be a crucial test. If the team’s struggles in testing carry over to the race weekend, Aston Martin could be in for a long and frustrating season.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
People who believe Alonso’s morale is low the same month Adrian Newey joined the team are also the people who think Max won the 2021 championship. What an utterly ridiculous statement.