Sky F1's Martin Brundle admitted to being puzzled by Aston Martin's regression of late, and suggests the Silverstone-based outfit may have "gone the wrong way" with the development of its AMR23.
After shining in the first part of the season, courtesy of Fernando Alonso who claimed six podiums in the first eight races of 2023, Aston Martin and its talented veteran have failed to finish higher than fifth in the last three events.
The team's backslide has now left it with the fifth fastest car on the grid, although Aston remains third in F1's Constructors' standings.
"It's difficult to work out how and why Aston Martin have fallen from main challengers to Red Bull to ninth and 10th some 75 seconds behind the winner, and fifth fastest car," commented Brundle in his post-Hungarian Grand Prix debrief for Sky Sports.
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"They have clearly been overtaken by effective updates at other teams but I can't help but feel they've gone the wrong way somewhere.
"There's talk that the more robust tyre construction from Silverstone has hurt them, but this decline was apparent before then.
"Let's hope they can sort it out quickly with changes of their own, as we need them back in the hunt."
©AstonMartin
Aston Martin wasn't the only front-running outfit singled out be Brundle for its underperformance last weekend at the Hungaroring.
The Britain speculated that tensions were likely riding high in Ferrari's race debrief last Sunday, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz never a force to reckoned with in Hungary where the pair concluded its race P7 and P8.
"Ferrari had an ultimately disappointing weekend in seventh and eighth and a minute behind the leader," Brundle said.
"Charles Leclerc suffered a five-second penalty for speeding in the pitlane by just 0.7kph which rather sums up their luck at the moment.
"He also had a poor pit stop which further dented his chances and once again his frustration over team radio was plain to hear.
©Ferrari
"Carlos Sainz started on soft compound tyres which he used to very good effect by gaining five places off the line but ultimately it would compromise his race.
"Ferrari were the fourth fastest car on race day and were out-qualified by two of their customer teams in Alfa Romeo and Haas. I can imagine their debriefs after Budapest and heading directly to Spa were somewhat tense…"
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