Aston Martin has experienced a 'year of learning' in F1 after upgrade missteps
Aston Martin has confirmed that its struggles with upgrades during the 2023 season can be attributed to a significant issue with its simulation tools.
The team had launched the 2023 campaign as the primary challenger to Red Bull, enjoying an impressive start with Fernando Alonso securing several podium finishes.
However, as competitors like McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari made substantial progress through upgrades, Aston Martin found itself slipping down the order, leaving its fans and experts puzzled.
Aston Martin described this downturn as a result of the "side-effects" stemming from their chosen development path. It appeared that the changes made to the car's design had an adverse impact on the balance of the AMR23.
Technical Director Dan Fallows, speaking in the build-up to the United States Grand Prix, confirmed that the team had delved deep into the issue, aiming to understand the root causes of their underperformance.
These revelations have added an extra layer of intrigue to Aston Martin's future in Formula 1 as they look to overcome the challenges that have affected their performance and regain their status as a leading contender in the sport.
"We can see where we went wrong in terms of upsetting the car balance," he said.
"We've understood why that's hurt our overall performance. Now, it's a question of making sure that we don't make the same mistakes again: it's certainly been a year of learning."
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