Following a vastly disappointing season, Fernando Alonso cites the shortage of time in Mercedes wind tunnel as being a big issue.
Ending fifth within the workforce standings may need seemed good on paper – contemplating the energy of the ‚massive 4‘ – however the truth that Aston Martin was 374 factors down on (fourth-placed) Mercedes reveals simply how dire the British workforce’s season actually was.
Although there have been factors finishes within the opening 4 races, and Canada – considered one of solely 4 events when each drivers scored factors – was arguably the perfect (workforce) efficiency of the yr, the second half of the season noticed the workforce battling for scraps, whereas Lance Stroll failed to attain a single level after the summer time break.
Certainly, it was exhausting to imagine that this was the identical workforce that scored six podiums within the opening eight races of 2023 and although nonetheless ending fifth was solely 22 factors down on fourth-placed McLaren.
The recruitment of Adrian Newey provides hope for the longer term, as does the brand new partnership with Honda, however reflecting on a depressing 2024, Alonso believes the shut ties to Mercedes had been partly responsible for his outfit’s struggles.
Apart from the Mercedes energy unit, Aston Martin relied on its German rival for its gearbox and in addition its wind-tunnel, the place, understandably, time was restricted.
„It isn’t a simple answer or a simple reply, as a result of if not, most likely we’ll do it somewhat bit simpler than what we now have discovered,“ the Spaniard informed the Chequered Flag podcast.
„I feel an issue of understanding somewhat bit the insides of the automobile, a number of the wind tunnel issues that I feel additionally Mercedes confronted final yr, by way of creating the automobile,“ he added. „Our wind tunnel utilization is somewhat bit restricted by utilizing the Mercedes tunnel.“
Fortunately, the workforce’s personal new windtunnel comes on-stream this yr, and whereas it is going to be too late to help the workforce’s 2025 contender it is going to be at Newey’s disposal for the 2026 automobile.
Certainly, workforce boss Mike Krack can hardly wait.
„We could have Yoda quickly serving to us and his power, so nothing can go fallacious for 2026,“ he says in a current workforce Q&A on YouTube.
