Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll finished 19th and 20th respectively in Bahrain testing, with Stroll clocking a 1:38.165 and Alonso a 1:38.248, putting Aston Martin at the back of the Formula 1 grid as pre-season testing concluded. The performance shortfall has prompted frank assessments from within the team, with Stroll openly stating on Thursday that Aston Martin is “around four seconds” off the pace.
The disappointing start to the season comes despite significant investment and anticipation surrounding the team. Design legend Adrian Newey joined Aston Martin in March, and the team is now partnered with Honda as a works engine supplier. Alonso, a two-time F1 world champion, is 45 in July and his contract expires at the end of the year, raising the stakes for a competitive season.
According to Alonso, the team’s struggles stem from a late start to testing, ongoing reliability issues, and the resulting lost time for car development. “Definitely we are not in the position we wanted to be,” Alonso said. The performance deficit appears to be split between engine performance and aerodynamic deficiencies. Stroll’s assessment suggests approximately 1.5 seconds of the gap is attributable to the engine, with the remaining 2.5 seconds stemming from the car’s aerodynamic package, which is particularly sensitive in slower corners.
The engine performance issues are particularly puzzling given Honda’s return to F1. Whereas Honda officially withdrew from the sport at the end of 2021, dismantling much of its engine department, they resumed development function in 2023. Despite a similar lead time to rivals like Red Bull in preparing for the new regulations, Honda’s current performance is significantly behind. There is no clear explanation offered for this disparity.
Aston Martin is also facing challenges related to its car design process, which was reportedly hampered by Newey’s late arrival. The team is also building its own gearbox for the first time, adding another layer of complexity. Pedro de la Rosa, recently appointed team representative to support Newey, acknowledged the challenges, stating, “Looking back is always easy…The bottom line is we are unhurried. We’re not where we want to be.”
De la Rosa emphasized the need for a focused plan to address the issues, adding, “Let’s get a plan together. Let’s look ahead, not back [at] what went wrong.” He expressed confidence that the performance gap would gradually shrink as the team identifies and resolves the underlying problems.
Testing results from Bahrain showed a clear performance hierarchy, with Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes setting the fastest lap at 1:33.669. Mercedes and Ferrari dominated the top of the timesheets, followed by McLaren and Red Bull. Haas, Alpine, and Audi occupied the midfield, while Racing Bulls, Williams, Cadillac, and Aston Martin trailed behind.
