Aston Martin is navigating a challenging start to the 2025 Formula 1 season, with their new AMR25 car struggling to find its footing on the track. Despite this, team principal Andy Cowell has firmly stated that Adrian Newey, the renowned car designer who joined Aston Martin in March, will not be diverted from his focus on the 2026 regulations. Newey, widely regarded as the best F1 car designer in history, is dedicating 100% of his designing time to the upcoming car, which will debut under new regulations next year.
As the team heads into the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, they find themselves in a precarious position. Aston Martin currently sits 7th in the Constructors' Championship standings, with veteran driver Fernando Alonso yet to score any points after four races, and teammate Lance Stroll managing only a modest total of 10 points. Stroll's recent performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix saw him finish in a disappointing 17th place, leading to a candid assessment of the AMR25's capabilities. "We are not where we want to be at the moment and we are pushing hard to change that," Stroll remarked after the race. "The track characteristics in Jeddah are quite different so let's see how we do there, although we are not expecting any big jumps."
With the 2026 season looming, Cowell emphasized the importance of Newey's role in shaping the future of the team. "100% of Adrian's designing time is focused on 2026," he stated at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which took place from April 18-20, 2025. "There are some tough deadlines to meet for releasing monocoque details, transmission details, and the cars are running earlier for the 2026 season with the test at the end of January. Getting a car ready for that point requires slightly earlier decision points." This means that while Aston Martin is struggling with the AMR25, the team's long-term vision remains firmly anchored in the upcoming regulations.
One of the primary concerns voiced by both drivers has been the car's performance in low-speed corners, which they have identified as a significant weakness. Alonso noted, "We’re still actually discovering a little bit the car and some of the weaknesses. I would say that the first four Grands Prix, the low-speed corners were probably our weakest part of the track." He expressed hope that the high-speed layout of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit might yield better results for the team, stating, "I think the high-speed content should be a little better for us. So yeah, we really hope for a better weekend."
Despite the struggles, there is optimism within the team about Newey's influence on their future direction. While he will not be directly involved in the development of the AMR25, his expertise will be invaluable in refining the team's methodologies and tools. Cowell explained, "There’s value in Adrian understanding the tools that we’ve got, the fidelity of those tools, and the precision with which they predict what’s going to happen on the racetrack." This insight is expected to enhance the team's performance as they prepare for the 2026 season.
Newey's arrival at Aston Martin was seen as a major coup for the team, given his track record of designing championship-winning cars. He is credited with creating vehicles that have secured a staggering 26 F1 world titles, making him a pivotal figure in the sport. His focus on the 2026 regulations is crucial, as the upcoming season will bring significant changes, including the introduction of new engines that utilize a 50/50 split between electrical power and internal combustion, powered by sustainable biofuels.
As the team continues to grapple with the challenges of the current season, the commitment to long-term success remains clear. Cowell reiterated the importance of staying the course with Newey's focus, stating, "Adrian has just been focused on that. But there is value in Adrian understanding the tools we've got, the fidelity of those tools and the precision with which they predict what is going to happen on the racetrack, rather than any direct performance aspect for the 2025 car."
In the meantime, Aston Martin is also transitioning away from its partnership with Mercedes, opting for an exclusive collaboration with Honda, which previously parted ways with Red Bull. This strategic shift is expected to bolster their performance as they move forward. With a new wind tunnel now operational at their Silverstone headquarters, the team is eager to correlate data from their simulations with real-world performance.
Stroll's candid remarks about the AMR25's lack of strengths underscore the urgency for improvement. When asked to identify any positive aspects of the car, he struggled to provide an answer. "I don’t think there’s any real strengths," he admitted. "We’re not the quickest car in a high-speed corner, we’re not the best car in low-speed traction. Maybe in straight-line braking, we’re quite okay." His teammate Alonso echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for the team to work hard on improving their performance in low-speed corners.
As the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix approaches, the focus will be on whether Aston Martin can make the necessary adjustments to their setup and strategy to extract more performance from the AMR25. With Newey's strategic vision guiding the team towards 2026, there is hope that the foundation being laid now will pay dividends in the future.
Ultimately, while the current season may not be yielding the desired results, the groundwork being established for the future is a source of motivation for the entire Aston Martin team. As Alonso stated, "The motivation in the team is super high anyway because, as we said many times, we have our wind tunnel now working since a few weeks ago, we have Adrian in the team, we have Honda coming, new regulations, so the motivation is really high." With this mindset, Aston Martin aims to turn their fortunes around and emerge as a competitive force in the coming seasons.
