Fernando Alonso reveals the root cause of Aston Martin's mid-season struggle
- Rob Fleming
- 12 September 2023
Formula 1 veteran Fernando Alonso has shed light on the reasons behind Aston Martin's mid-season performance dip, citing their pursuit of car set-up changes as a key factor.
Despite securing a podium finish at the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix, their first since June's Canadian GP, the team's initial season dominance had waned, with rivals Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren closing the gap, marking the end of their streak of six podium finishes in the first seven races.
During the challenging month of July, the team's highest placement was a fifth-place finish by Alonso in Belgium, while his teammate, Lance Stroll, managed ninth in Austria and Belgium, with a notable fourth-place finish in the Austria Sprint.
Aston Martin's performance director, Tom McCullough, expressed confidence in the team's development path, but Alonso believes that their constant tinkering with the car set-up complicated matters during race weekends.
"Early in the weekend, we felt that the car wasn't responding as we wanted. We lacked comfort entering corners, and there was an unsettling feeling in the car," Alonso explained during a media session. "In response, we made changes to the car's setup, but it often felt like we were improving one aspect while worsening another.
"We walked a fine line and were never completely satisfied. This became a recurring issue in July. It could be attributed to the car's performance or the package we were running during that period. There were various theories, but no definitive answers."
Looking ahead, the Formula 1 calendar resumes with the Singapore Grand Prix, scheduled for the weekend of September 15-17. Known for its physically demanding nature, the Marina Bay Circuit in Singapore presents a gruelling challenge for drivers.
With its bumpy street surface and humid conditions, the 5.063km circuit forces competitors to push their limits to the extreme.
