Aston Martin shocked the entire Formula 1 paddock with the AMR23. The car looked stable in testing and its pace didn’t lag either. Lance Stroll has struggled to make the most out of it, but Fernando Alonso shined in the first half of the season. Mike Crack admits how the oldest driver on the grid shocked him with his performance.
Their Season So Far
Aston Martin leapfrogged everyone except Red Bull in 2023. The team shot up the rankings from being 7th last season to being 2nd early on. The AMR23 looked genuinely good on Saturdays. With commendable tyre degradation, it looked even better on Sundays.
Fernando Alonso took all the spotlight as Lance Stroll struggled to keep pace with the veteran. The team was flying high but hit a stumbling block. A few upgrades they brought didn’t work as intended. This has seen them being out-developed by both Mercedes and McLaren. With Ferrari finding its feet again, they suddenly slipped to the back of the pack.
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Driver Performances
Fernando Alonso has resurrected his Formula 1 reputation with this move to Aston Martin. He still has what it takes to fight at the front, and he is as sharp as ever. Alonso has thoroughly outperformed Lance Stroll, and the points gap does tell the full story in this case. He almost got pole in Monaco, and genuinely challenged for the race win. He scored 5 podiums in the first 6 races and still sits third in the drivers’ championship.
Lance Stroll started the season with an injury to his wrists. His start to the season, still not fully fit, was commendable. Alonso called him ‘a hero’ for doing what he did. However, his performance relative to Fernando has dropped off as the season has progressed. With a better driver in that seat, Aston Martin would be second in the standings.
How has the car evolved?
Aston Martin is the only top team whose performance has fallen since the start of the season. The upgrades they brought in Canada didn’t work. However, Mike Crack claims the team has understood what went wrong, and will rectify it as they look to bounce back.
Also Read: Ferrari’s season of ups and downs, confusion, & readjusted expectations
Prediction
That people are disappointed with Aston Martin being third currently indicates how big a leap they have taken. They have truly been the highlight of the season. However, Mercedes have thoroughly outperformed them. With Ferrari just 5 points behind, it will be an interesting fight for 3rd.
