Why Aston Martin’s F1 turnaround is genuine despite Imola GP tyre gamble

A wise tyre selection helped Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll qualify a shock fifth and sixth for Imola’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. However how real is Aston Martin’s upgraded efficiency?

Imola noticed the introduction of Pirelli’s new-for-2025 C6 compound, a fair softer tyre than its C5, which is in flip designed to boost the motion on road circuits and keep away from races during which one-stopping is the one smart technique.

It was a assured transfer by Pirelli to deliver its softest compound to Imola, a observe that has lengthy wanted some assist to enhance its standard processional racing. That confidence wasn’t essentially shared by all of the groups, who went into the weekend nervous about how properly the C6 compound would maintain up in qualifying.

The tyres carried out properly in Friday observe, however because the tempo ramped up into qualifying it grew to become obvious that the C5, the designated medium this weekend, was at the very least as fast – if not faster – over one lap, in addition to extra constant. That’s one thing Pirelli does not absolutely perceive but, as the information did not point out a noticeable drop-off within the closing sector due to the C6 tyres degrading extra rapidly.

The tyre state of affairs proved excellent news for Aston Martin, which had hedged its bets and ensured it saved apart an additional set of medium tyres on the expense of a second set of hards for the race. Alonso and Stroll each superior to Q3 on mediums, after which had one other set accessible to say a shock fifth and sixth.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Pictures by way of Getty Pictures

Motorsport.com understands Aston’s tyre selection was made earlier than the weekend. Led by head of trackside engineering Mike Krack, the workforce caught to its weapons into Saturday afternoon’s session.

„The entire weekend has been slightly bit complicated [as to] which tyre was higher, the medium or the gentle,“ Alonso mentioned. „We determined to do one gentle and one medium in every of the classes. Like this, we coated each chance.

„I believe everybody has two hards for tomorrow. We now have just one, however that is the guess you might want to make at [a certain] level. It is a tough observe on which to overhaul and we made Saturday slightly little bit of a precedence. Let’s examine if it pays off.“

Aston Martin additionally launched a complete improve bundle this weekend, which debuted on Lance Stroll’s automobile on Friday earlier than being utilized to Alonso’s AMR25 as properly from Saturday morning onwards, with the preliminary impressions from the workforce indicating a constructive step.

However how a lot of Aston’s qualifying success was all the way down to its tyre selection? And the way a lot of it’s repeatable because the struggling Silverstone outfit goals to show its 2025 season round after a tough begin on the unsuitable aspect of a decent midfield?

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Pictures by way of Getty Pictures

Alonso actually feels the workforce’s upgrades performed a giant function, as a result of he felt aggressive with each the medium and the gentle.

„Possibly the instances are slightly bit too optimistic for the improve that we introduced, however we’re positively not within the state of affairs that we had been in on the first race,“ he added. „In Miami we had been nonetheless out [in] Q1. So, positively it is an excellent day for the workforce.

„Let’s examine the tempo [in the race]. I believe it is not so good as P5, so I am able to lose a few positions, however hopefully not too many.“

When requested whether or not he may see gentle on the finish of the tunnel after a patience-testing 18 months with the workforce, the two-time world champion mentioned he was nonetheless extra all for what the outfit can obtain beneath 2026’s new laws: „I am blissful to be [in a position] to attain a number of factors, however I need to be in Australia subsequent 12 months and win the race.

„We now have had some detrimental experiences bringing upgrades and never understanding the bundle and never delivering the lap instances that we had been anticipating. So, evidently for positive [this upgrade] was a step ahead.“

Extra reporting by Frederik Hackbarth

Photographs from Imola GP – Apply & Qualifying