As Fernando Alonso gears up for the 2025 Formula 1 season, the two-time world champion has made it clear that Aston Martin’s experiences in 2024 will serve as a driving force in their pursuit of success with the AMR25.
After an impressive start to the 2023 season, Aston Martin’s momentum faded due to a lack of consistent car development. Now, Alonso and the team are determined to use those lessons to ensure they remain competitive across the entire year.
With major regulation changes coming in 2026, Aston Martin sees 2025 as a crucial stepping stone. The focus is on refining the weaknesses of their previous cars, ensuring that they can challenge for podiums and race wins with greater consistency.
2024: A Season of Highs and Lows
Aston Martin made headlines at the beginning of 2023 when they emerged as Red Bull’s closest competitor in the opening rounds. However, their performance gradually dipped as the season progressed, with other teams—such as McLaren and Mercedes—out-developing them in the latter half of the year.
Heading into 2024, Aston Martin aimed to address these shortcomings, but once again, they struggled to maintain their early-season competitiveness. Alonso, who has seen it all in his two-decade-long F1 career, believes that these struggles will make the team stronger moving forward.
“Every season teaches you something, and 2024 was no different,” Alonso stated. “We learned about our limitations, and we’ve worked hard to ensure we don’t repeat the same mistakes.”
Aston Martin’s Focus for 2025
Heading into the new season, Aston Martin has placed significant emphasis on improving key aspects of the car’s development. One of the biggest issues in 2024 was a lack of adaptability—while Aston Martin started the season with a strong baseline, they struggled to bring upgrades that kept them competitive in the development war.
Technical Director Dan Fallows has acknowledged this challenge, stating that the team has refined its upgrade strategy for 2025.
“We know that continuous development is essential in modern F1,” Fallows explained. “We’ve worked on ensuring our upgrade packages are more effective and consistent throughout the season.”
One key area of focus for the AMR25 has been aerodynamic efficiency. In 2024, the team found themselves struggling at high-speed circuits where drag became a limiting factor. Aston Martin has worked extensively in the wind tunnel to improve their balance between downforce and straight-line speed, an area where Red Bull has excelled in recent years.
Alonso’s Role in Shaping the Team’s Future
At 43 years old, Fernando Alonso remains one of the most motivated and competitive drivers on the grid. His leadership and experience have been invaluable to Aston Martin as they continue to build towards becoming a championship-contending team.
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With Alonso’s contract extending through 2025, there has been speculation about whether he will continue racing beyond next season, especially with Aston Martin looking to enter the new 2026 regulations with a fresh approach. However, the Spaniard has made it clear that his focus is solely on making the AMR25 a competitive package.
“Right now, my only goal is to make sure we are fighting at the front,” Alonso said. “The future will take care of itself, but I am fully committed to pushing this team forward.”
His experience and deep understanding of car development have allowed him to play a crucial role in guiding Aston Martin’s technical direction. Team Principal Mike Krack has praised Alonso’s influence, calling him an essential part of the team’s progress.
“Fernando is not just a driver—he’s an engineer, a strategist, and a leader,” Krack stated. “His feedback has been instrumental in how we have shaped the AMR25.”
Can Aston Martin Challenge the Big Three?
Despite making significant strides since their rebranding in 2021, Aston Martin is still searching for their first race win. With Red Bull’s dominance showing little signs of weakening and Mercedes and Ferrari continuing to develop strong packages, the challenge of breaking into the top tier remains daunting.
However, Alonso remains confident that Aston Martin has what it takes to be a serious contender in 2025.
“We know that Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari are tough competitors, but we believe we can be in the mix,” Alonso stated. “The goal is to be fighting for podiums regularly and, if the opportunity arises, go for a win.”
Much of Aston Martin’s success will depend on how effectively they can execute their upgrade strategy throughout the season. Unlike 2024, where they fell behind in development, the team is determined to stay on top of their progress and ensure they don’t lose ground to their rivals.
Looking Ahead to the 2025 Season
With winter testing around the corner, all eyes will be on the AMR25 and whether it can deliver on its promise. Aston Martin has invested heavily in its facilities, including the construction of a new state-of-the-art factory, which is expected to play a major role in their long-term growth.
If the team has truly learned from the challenges of 2024, then 2025 could be the season where they finally establish themselves as a top-tier force in Formula 1. And with Fernando Alonso at the helm, there’s no doubt that they will be pushing as hard as ever to achieve their ambitions.
