Aston Martin is the name of the Formula 1 World Cup in this 2023. It is the name of the team that has improved the most. Of what has happened, in a few months, to suffer to overcome Q1 of practically every Grand Prix to see how, in the test test, Fernando Alonso got on the podium in Bahrain. Yes, the typical miracle that is hard to believe in this sport… but what they have achieved at Silverstone.
What they have achieved in a short time. In a very short time. So rare that it is still hard to understand. She’s still hard to believe. still have to rub your eyes seeing the classification of both Saturday and Sunday in Bahrain, in Sakhir, and verifying that Alonso was fifth and third respectively.
And he did it in a completely deserved way. Because it didn’t rain. Because there was no ‘fuss’ ahead. because so alone It was Charles Leclerc, of the pilots who were ahead, the one who had a problem that made him quit. Nor is it clear that Alonso, even with the Monegasque on track, I would not have finished third. It was far away, but the Aston Martin was a second faster than the Ferrari.
After Red Bull, Aston Martin
It was, in fact, the fastest car on the track after the Red Bull. Yes, the path began in Montmeló, at the 2022 Spanish GP, but still something like that was unthinkable in Abu Dhabi. It was unthinkable at the end of the last Formula 1 World Cup.
But they have. They have made it. They have achieved it. And it wasn’t just thanks to the signing of Fernando Alonso. It is, of course, a more than valuable addition. Having a pilot with his experience, and his talent, is always something that adds up. Something that counts. But let’s not forget that in 2021 and 2022 Aston Martin had in its ranks Sebastian Vettel, four-time world champion.
Not bad either. However, the best position of the German in the entire past World Cup was two sixth places in Azerbaijan and in Japan. In Baku there were even five dropouts, with the two Ferraris between them; In Suzuka, without Sainz on the track, he came in just eleven thousandths behind Alonso.
In one race, almost half as many points as in 2022
He added 37 points in 19 races, having missed the first two in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As for Lance Stroll, he finished the course with 18 points. The best performance of him, in Singapore. He was sixth…but six riders dropped out. Between the two of us 55 units in 21 grand prizes. After Bahrain, Aston Martin already has 26… almost half.
If we go back to 2021, the Silverstone team (which came from a Racing Point that won in Sakhir with Sergio Pérez), finished with 77 points. Vettel added 43; Stroll, 34. Sebastian was on the podium in that legendary Hungarian GP that ended in victory for Esteban Ocon. YoImagine how the race was…
But Bahrain did not have much of a history. There were both Red Bulls and then Aston Martin. Fernando Alonso, 18 points; Lance Stroll, 8 units ahead of even George Russel despite the fact that the Canadian practically he ran with a limp and with one hand. Yes, something has changed… and what has changed comes from where it comes.
Fallows, Red Bull’s big mistake?
It comes thanks to Dan Fallows and Eric Blandin, in large part. Thanks to the signings in the key positions of the team. First It comes from Red Bull. with energy drink brand allegations plagiarism and so on. The second, from Mercedes. The two, from the golden age of the most successful teams of the last decade.
But this is the only way to achieve such a radical change. That’s the only way you can’t lead a team that when Alonso signed in the summer he was ninth Let’s see that right now he rubs shoulders with Ferrari. In 8 months an almost impossible miracle has been performed.
The secret? nonconformity. Not evolving like the rest has done with his 2022 car. Realizing that this is not the way to get there. That only with that there is no mission that is worth more Fernando than you have. You had to risk. And it is just what they have done.
the only resemblance What does the AMR23 have? with the AMR22 it is the color green. Everything else is new. The rest is not an evolution of anything. It is, as they said at the time, a revolution. The rest are almost the same as in 2022. the mercedes, with those ‘no pontoons’, is the clear example of the path that they have not followed in Aston Martin.
The keys to the green ‘monster’
Because winter has been a lot of work. Because you could see the illusion in the eyes of Lawrence Stroll and Mike Krack in the presentation of AMR23. And from, of course, from Dan Fallows. From the great architect of everything. From which he came and after completing the six months of “forced rest” he has created a true monster.
One that in curve is a scandal. That has made even Alonso himself have recognized which is wonderful to drive. Its sidepods cannot be compared to any other on the grid, taking the best of Red Bull and Ferrari, with a rear end that makes the car very stable.
Besides, tire degradation is virtually zero. It was seen in Bahrain, a demanding circuit in this regard. Fernando Alonso’s times, far from increasing like those of Ferrari, were maintained and he could play as he wanted both with his times and with the rest of the rivals for the podium. Their spokes were simply, sensational.
The plan is work and work
Aston Martin had a plan. Not one to win in a hundred races like Alpine. A plan to work and follow your own path. And it has worked for them. the wind tunnel It has been the great ally of those from Silverstone. There is nothing better than taking a test than seeing that the correlation in terms of what is seen on the track is the same or very similar to what has been tested. Yes, beyond the times, even the tyres, that makes the team know that it is on the right track.
One that has just started, because they have already confirmed that what is saw in Bahrain is just the base. It is what many had years ago and have evolved. Which, in the case of the Aston Martin AMR23, still has a long way to go. In Sakhir, at the entrance and exit of the curve, he was the best… and that makes the team optimistic.
Let it be for Saudi Arabia and, be careful, with Australia. The semi-urban track of Albert Park may be, due to its characteristics, the layout of victory 33 of Fernando Alonso in Formula 1. The Asturian, last year with Alpine, was already very close to doing a real madness in qualifying.
And it is that everything is optimistic with the miracle that Aston Martin has created. The vision of Lawrence Stroll, owner of the team, the ‘wallet’ of Lance’s father to attract the masterminds of other leading teams, his ambition with the clear idea of winning, winning, winning and winning again, the good atmosphere that It shows that there is, the arrival of Alonso… and the concept of the car have done what three months ago, and one ago, seemed like an impossible mission.
A ‘revolution’ to win
The ‘revolution’ of the AMR23, which is, again we say, the basis of what is to come with evolutions that will change two thirds of the car as they have already confirmed in the team, it works. Others have ‘just’ evolved their concept; Aston Martin has gone a step further not only to lead the middle zone, but to achieve podiums and win races.
