Fernando Alonso entered the paddock in Spain in much more testing circumstances than previous years.
With better strategy and reliability, the Spaniard might have over 30 points to his name in 2025. Instead, Alonso finds himself as one of just three drivers yet to finish a race in the top 10.
His frustration in Monaco was clear, when an engine failure prevented him from securing a top 7 result.
Still, as Alonso has mentioned previously, the 43-year-old’s primary focus is on the 2026 regulations.
Whilst there is more optimism about the AMR25 since their recent updates, Aston Martin are under no illusions about their priorities.
Alonso explains Newey influence
Aston Martin’s success in securing Adrian Newey’s signature came in spite of immense interest from across the paddock.
It was most notably Ferrari who were in the race for the British engineer’s signature, only for Aston to emerge victorious.
Lawrence Stroll’s team managed to offer Newey the most enticing offer, which included the title of Managing Technical Partner.
For most of the year, Aston’s poor results have somewhat dampened the excitement surrounding his presence at Silverstone.
However, the factory’s latest set of upgrades – which delivered a notable step forward in Imola – have returned some optimism about the team’s short-term prospects.
Whilst Alonso’s DNF in Monaco was obviously frustrating, seeing Adrian Newey inspect the grid with his notebook undoubtedly created a buzz about what he could deliver for 2026.
Alonso told the media in Spain about the experience of having Newey trackside:
“It was fantastic. I think the way he sees things on the car, even statically the pit lane or at the grid.
“Also in the garage, spotting some things that we could have done better or do better in the future.
“But also his presence in the meeting room is always special.
“Not intimidating, but I think the level of the team was higher thanks to his presence because everyone was more focused, more into the details of the car.
“People that talk in the meeting, they know that they cannot say anything too far from the truth because he will spot it.
“So I think that was great to witness and I hope next year.
“With more races that he will come, we’ll keep learning from him and getting better as a team.”
Aston Martin look to convert in Spain
When Aston Martin took the 2023 season by storm, it was not just their performance that secured them strong results.
Their operational efficiency, in terms of reliability, set-up optimisation and strategy, was crucial in allowing them to capitalise on their initial pace.
This season so far, a combination of operational errors and limited pace have blighted their efforts.
VCARB and Haas’ sizable points hauls in Monaco rubbed salt in the wounds of a team who have left plenty of points on the table.
In Spain, Aston Martin have the chance to compensate for previous mistakes and deliver a strong result.
A competitive weekend for the Silverstone-based team in Barcelona, aside from being valuable in itself, will also bode well for their chances in the rest of the 2025 campaign.
Main photo: Zak Mauger/LAT Images (via Aston Martin media gallery)
