The 2025 Aston Martin Formula One car was deemed by most F1 analysts as second slowest only to Sauber, following the pre-season testing in Bahrain. However, the team did run a particularly strange programme where they neither chased a fast lap time or did much long run analysis.
Despite coming fifth in the constructors’ title race last year, as the season entered its final stages, the Aston Martin was one of the slowest cars on the grid. Fernando Alonso continued to defy his age along with the pace of his car to finish the year as the best placed driver from outside the top four teams.
The car appeared to be more difficult to drive from after the 2024 F1 summer break, but whilst Lance Stroll scored no points after the Hungarian Grand Prix, Alonso increased his tally from 49 ton 70. Fernando made his frustration at the car’s lack of performance on a number of occasions, although he remained ahead of both Alpine drivers, the team he left for better results.
Aston Martin 9th quickest team?
In 2023, Aston Martin appeared to have cracked the relatively new FIA ground effect car design regulations, as Fernando Alonso claimed six podiums in the first eight Grand Prix weekends. Then as others improved their cars through in season development, Alonso struggled to finish in the top three bar just two more occasions.
The Silverstone based team owned by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll has made a huge investment in brand new facilities in Northamptonshire, which includes a wind tunnel and state of the art production facilities. Further, Andy Cowell the Mercedes power unit guru is now the team boss, and legendary F1 car designer, Adrian Newey is sitting at his newly repainted green coloured easel.
Various comments from Cowell and Alonso would suggest Newey is focused on next year’s car when a huge reset is expected with the biggest regulations changes in F1 history. Yet Aston Martin’s test programme may suggest Newey’s involvement may also be in the 2025 car, which he had no input in designing.
Newey was on garden leave from Red Bull Racing until March 3rd, but it cold be his interest in all things Aston Martin was already underway. Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz suggested post the Bahrain test, that Aston Martin could be the ninth quickest team this year before Newey can work his magic for next.
Marko predicts Australian winner – its not Max!
Aston testing runs in Bahrain a puzzle
Yet respected German F1 commentator, Michael Schmidt is not so sure the Bahrian test for Aston Martin was in fact what it seemed. Speaking to Auto Motor und Sport’s YouTube channel he wonders whether Aston Martin’s pre-season performance was related to Newey’s imminent arrival.
When asked about the Bahrain test, Schmidt said of Aston Martin, “Yes, I mean they drove a very strange program that was probably the most opaque program, so they are not easy to assess. Are they fast, are they slow? It’s said that the cars have become much more predictable.”
Of course a better balanced and more predictable car is all well and good, but if it doesn’t translate into faster lap times, a certain Mr. Stroll will be most unhappy. Schmidt continues with his musings over Aston Martin apparent sandbagging in Bahrain. “I had the feeling because they didn’t go for a fast lap nor do a long run simulation they just collected data.”
“They have admitted that they have done a lot of experimenting with the setup, with ground clearance and so on, so they were basically just collecting data for Adrian Newey, who then started looking at it on March 3 and perhaps using this data and the lap times achieved and the car that he then really saw in all its details and to maybe work out a few solutions,” added Schmidt.
Newey will work one 2025 car
Is it possible that Newey will in fact get deeply involved with this season’s Aston Martin, given in season development for an F1 team can add between 1-2 seconds a lap?
“So, one thing is quite clear, if they were as weak as they looked in Bahrain if we only look at the lap times then Lawrence Stroll will tell him, ‘You have to take care of the car here’. He won’t want to be driving around in 8th place or whatever for a year.”
There has probably been to much made in the F1 media over the binary decision of how Aston Martin should deploy their new technical managing partner. It would seem reasonable that he would get involved with input on how to develop this year’s F1 car together with his scribblings on how to defeat the FIA conundrum being set for next year’s car design.
On the eve of the Australian GP, Aston’s team boss Andy Cowell published his thoughts on the team’s website. Speaking about how Newey’s first few days have panned out, Cowell said Newey “embedded himself immediately”.
McLaren clarify Pisatri’s future
Neweys’ first week revealed
“There’s been huge interest in Adrian’s arrival but he’s not one for great ceremony,” continued Cowell. “He walked into his office at the AMR Technology Campus, put his briefcase down, and was in a concept meeting almost straight away, discussing an area of the car.
“He’s embedded himself immediately. He’s met all our exec team and quickly immersed himself with our engineers, attentively listening to what people are saying about the work they’ve done.
“Ultimately, he’s an engineer helping engineer our race cars. He’s just rolled his sleeves up and got straight into the job. He’s asking questions, he’s offering opinions and he’s bringing a fresh perspective. We’re delighted to have him.”
Aston Martin’s gain is Red Bull’s loss and if Max Verstappen is to be believed, the team will field a “horrible car” this weekend in Melbourne. With Newey gone all eyes will be turned on the team’s technical director Pierre Wache who for the first tine in twenty years will deliver an F1 car without the input from Adrian Newey.
Red Bull need crucial fixes as Verstappen describes a “horrible car”
FIA last minute regulation U-Turn for the Australian GP
The 2025 Formula One season will burst into life in less than two days and already there are accusations being made that certain teams are cheating with their car designs. Flexing bodywork has been banned in Formula One for as long as anyone can remember, yet teams find ways to defeat the FIA tests designed to prove this is occurring.
Last year McLaren were accused of using flexi-wings following their first big upgrade of the year which came in Miami. The wings passed the FIA static deflection tests but it was obvious from TV footage that under the extreme loads at high speed, the wings were in fact operating like a mini-DRS.
The FIA fumbled around like blind men in the dark over the matter, something Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur was particularly unhappy about. As the summer break approached McLaren and Mercedes appeared to be using excessive aero elasticity on their front wings too….. READ MORE
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.
