In anticipation of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso has tempered expectations regarding Aston Martin’s new update package. Despite the introduction of a revised floor, Alonso believes that the upgrades will not significantly impact the team’s overall performance. The new parts, while important, are more of a preview of what’s to come for Aston Martin’s 2025 car, rather than a game-changer for the current season.
Alonso explained that, at this stage of the championship, substantial gains are hard to come by for any team, even with new developments. He emphasized that while the updates are beneficial, they are more of a test for the future car rather than a transformative addition for the current races. For Alonso and Aston Martin, the primary goal in Austin will be ensuring that the new parts perform as expected and maintain the progress the team has made since the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The limited opportunities provided by sprint weekends further complicate matters. Alonso noted that teams have only one practice session to fine-tune their setups, and any mistakes in this session could significantly impact the rest of the weekend. In last year’s US GP, issues in practice, including brake problems and limited track time, led to a disappointing race for Aston Martin. Avoiding such setbacks will be crucial this time around.
Alonso also acknowledged that any improvements made by Aston Martin will likely be matched by rival teams. As he pointed out, even small gains in performance are often neutralized because all teams are making similar advancements. This means that while improvements might be achieved, the team’s overall standing is unlikely to change drastically.
In summary, Alonso remains cautiously optimistic about the upgrades but stresses the importance of clean execution in practice. The real challenge, he suggests, will be maximizing the potential of the new parts and avoiding any mistakes that could compromise the team’s weekend per
formance.