Aston Martin had its most profitable weekend of the 2025 System 1 season on the Hungarian Grand Prix, however is at a loss to clarify why it occurred.
One week prior, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll locked out the again row at Spa-Francorchamps, however on the Hungaroring they claimed fifth and sixth on the grid – their finest consequence since they certified respectively fourth and third on the 2023 Brazilian GP. However this time, they had been barely one tenth away from pole place.
This was no fluke; though they had been by no means in rivalry for victory or perhaps a podium, they did end fifth and seventh in Hungary, once more their finest consequence since Sao Paulo 2023 (third and fifth).
The sensation among the many staff would possibly finest be described as puzzled aid, because it couldn’t clarify the way it achieved such a tour de drive.
“It’s a shock, positively it’s a shock. It is a good shock,” Alonso contemplated. “The nice factor is that we had been aggressive and we had been quick. The regarding factor is that we do not know why.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Picture by: Zak Mauger / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
“We want this week on the manufacturing unit [before the mandatory summer shutdown] to analyse precisely what are the variations between Spa and Hungary, what are the variations on the automotive as properly, on the set-up, on the aero gadgets that we had been racing with.
“Clearly, the principle theme for us was the entrance wing that was new this weekend. If that entrance wing offers us that a lot efficiency, that is superb information, however I believe that must be understood for the time being.”
The brand new high-downforce entrance wing was anticipated to ship efficiency on the twisty Hungaroring observe, however arguably not that a lot. One other distinction that got here into play was the swap again to the previous Imola-spec ground, although Alonso has lauded good correlation from the simulator for all upgrades, together with the newer ground.
“All the pieces that we delivered to the observe is delivering precisely what the wind tunnel was saying,” he claimed. “No matter we need to slot in any weekend, we all know what the automotive will ship.”
So the principle issue, as steered by the Spanish veteran, could also be observe traits. Spa-Francorchamps primarily has lengthy straights interspersed with all types of corners, together with a number of high-speed curves, making it one of many quickest circuits on the calendar. The Hungaroring, in the meantime, is the second-slowest format on the F1 calendar on account of its collection of medium-speed and sluggish corners.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Morale is up, however efficiency should not droop again down
The Belgian GP consequence was constructive in a number of methods, with these 16 factors – in comparison with the 36 collected over the primary 13 grands prix of the 12 months – hauling Aston from eighth to sixth within the constructors’ championship. Equally importantly, staff morale was boosted.
“I might not lie, I used to be apprehensive, I used to be involved for the second a part of the 12 months,” Alonso admitted, opening up greater than he used to about Aston Martin’s struggles, as he beforehand avoided delving into how critical the scenario was for such an bold outfit – although his tone and manner by no means fairly hid his opinion.
“We had been a bit of bit down when it comes to motivation, everybody within the staff, and these seven days, I believe it adjustments 180 levels.”
Motivation could have drastically improved, however Aston Martin staff bosses are conscious the staff must keep away from slumping again to Q1 degree, even with the 2026 automotive being the precedence forward of F1’s new technical period – which means new recruit Adrian Newey refrains from engaged on the AMR25 in any respect.
“You can’t leap, usually, from the again of the midfield to the entrance of the midfield inside seven days,” chief trackside officer Mike Krack acknowledged.
“We have to be sensible. We had very troublesome races earlier than, not solely Spa. It doesn’t imply that now we have managed an entire turnaround. I believe it is most likely additionally a bit circumstantial. The combat within the midfield will proceed, I am certain.”
Mike Krack, Chief Trackside Officer of the Aston Martin F1 Staff
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
The following stage within the midfield battle would be the Dutch GP on the finish of the month, on the marginally quicker but additionally slim and twisty Zandvoort observe, which is able to affirm or disprove the AMR25’s appetency for such circuits.
“The primary check might be Zandvoort. Once more, most downforce in Zandvoort,” Alonso identified. “We carried out properly in the previous few years there, so hopefully now we have each automobiles within the factors once more.”
The 2-time F1 champion completed second within the 2023 operating of the race, however received’t be anticipated to repeat such a consequence this time round.
Extra reporting by Oleg Karpov and Filip Cleeren
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