Aston Martin’s reinvigorated F1 fight in 2023
Could Aston Martin be on the cusp of an F1 revolution?
Apr 5, 2023
Whether you’re an avid fan, fair-weather supporter or have come to F1 through Netflix’s Drive to Survive, you’ll be familiar with the cyclical nature of challenges teams face as the develop not just cars at the razor’s edge of what’s possible, but also develop cohesive teams and driver pairings.
Through recent years both Aston Martin and veteran Champion, Fernado Alonso have had their fair share of respective challenges. But this season is looking different. Aston Martin and Alonso seem to compliments each other and it’s looking like a very exciting season for the team.
After disappointing seasons across several teams, Fernando, the oldest driver in the field, looks reinvigorated at the wheel of Aston Martin’s AMR23 car having had a podium finish at every race so far, Alonso now sits third in the championship and there’s a palpable feeling around the paddock that race wins are not out of the question.
Of course, that is the aim of every team. But in Formula 1 talent alone doesn’t win races. Big budget teams dominate the front of the field, you can have budget caps, but ultimately, money and importantly, how that’s implemented, can and more often does translate to track position.
And that’s where Aston Martin’s Formula One Team owner, Lawrence Stroll, has seemingly made a huge impact. Thanks almost entirely to Stroll’s strong business connections and acumen, sponsorship revenue is now eight times of what it generated in 2020, when it competed as Racing Point. Aside from the commercial benefits, the imposing and at times polarising figurehead, is steadfast in his vision for Aston Martin’s success and world title is the only goal.
Things are only set to improve according to Stroll too. "I said a couple of years back, we are on a five-year journey to be fighting for World Championships. I met a lot of doubters when I said that and I can understand that given our position when I said that [But] a lot has changed since then. We've made significant changes. We have the greatest state of the art facility that we don't move into until May 1st, so the success of this year can't be contributed to this.”
A new car, developed with more focus and more resources. Coupled with the experienced race craft of Alonso and the growing capabilities of teammate Lance Stroll and Aston Martin appears to have a winning recipe.
Aston Martin’s result at the Australian Grand Prix is a great example of how competitive Aston Martin are right now. The highly chaotic race featured an unprecedented three red flags but Fernando and Lance were able to fight their way through to finish third and fourth at Albert Park Circuit.
Fernando challenged for second place behind Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton for much of the race, before the second red flag came out. On the subsequent restart, he was tipped into a spin by Ferrari's Carlos Sainz.
However, as the third and final red flag was called before the field had passed the first sector marker, the result from the previous lap – minus any cars that were eliminated – was used for a one-lap restart behind the Safety Car to the finish. This meant Fernando came through to take his third podium finish in succession.
Alonso is all over the front runners. A vast turnaround over past years for the beloved multiple Champion who, before 2023, remarkably hadn’t podiumed in seven seasons.
The acid test will be on how Aston Martin and Alonso build on the season’s opening race results, as the cars continue to develop will those other big-budget teams like Mercedes – who shares their wind tunnel with Aston Martin – emerge stronger mid-season? Will Aston Martin be able counter with their own enhanced performance?
Time will tell, but with Aston Martin investing heavily in their own infrastructure, including a new “Game Changer” Factory in May. Followed by a dedicated Wind Tunnel to benefit the AM25 model car a few years from now.
In what must be the last stanza for Fernando Alonso’s career, he’s chosen to side with a real contender and we can only hope he will taste champagne again soon. It’s been fair too long between drinks.
