Aston Martin have been the break out star of the 2023 season, rising rapidly up the grid to be a title contender, hunting down Red Bull on the grid.
Fernando Alonso has secured four podium finishes this season, taking third place in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Miami.
Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack remains confident going into round six, as several rivals prepare to unveil major upgrade packages in a bid to put them back in the fight.
Mercedes and Ferrari are among those who are looking to get back on form, fighting Aston Martin and Red Bull at the front amid a development arms race.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
Krack isn’t fazed by the developments that will be unveiled in Imola, as it looks to hold onto second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
“We’re pushing quite hard on the developments, and we’re quite confident that for the next few events, the data differences will not be too big as the development race goes on,” Krack stated.
“But then what comes after, say mid-season, we cannot say at this stage, because you have to see then who has spent how much and where you are at that stage, and you will also have the new car (for 2024) to develop.
“We’re not really observing too much what their (Mercedes and Ferrari) situation is, where they are coming from, what they do next.
“We do our thing, we have our plan, and it will not change so much if one or the other team brings upgrades every race. This cannot change our plan, otherwise, we are always reactive.
“It’s important you define yourself, you put a roadmap in place, you define what you need when, and you follow it.
READ: George Russell mocks ‘pathetic’ Max Verstappen
“Obviously, you need to react left and right, depending on how your development goes but you should not get too carried away with what others are doing.”
Going into Imola, Aston Martin finds itself on 102 points, 122 behind title-leaders Red Bull and just six points ahead of Mercedes.
Aston Martin’s success has been powered by Alonso’s performance, which has seen him rise to P3 in the Drivers’ Standings, hot on the heels of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.