Fernando Alonso has admitted that Aston Martin has failed to exploit the competitive opportunities presented by F1's current regulations to close the gap to the sport’s front-running teams.
The two-time world champion played a pivotal role in the team’s success in 2023, claiming eight podium finishes that positioned Aston Martin fifth in F1’s Constructors’ standings.
But so far, the Silverstone-based outfit’s best efforts haven’t yielded a single top three finish. The team’s current tally of 74 points is little more than a third of their total after 15 rounds last season, while Alonso’s best result year-to-date is a fifth-place finish achieved last March in Jeddah.
“It’s a little bit frustrating not to be able to fight at the top,” he admitted ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.
“But you understand the nature of the sport as well and I think we have to wait for better times.”
Alonso believes that the new regulations introduced in 2022 have successfully reduced the gap between teams, encouraging closer racing.
However, he attributed Aston Martin's struggles to internal factors rather than any shortcomings in the regulations.
“I think the intention of the regulations are working fine because we have four teams fighting for victory and this is better than what we used to have,” he said.
“So if we are not able to fight further up, it’s because we didn’t do a good job, it’s not because of the regulations.”
The 43-year-old F1 veteran underscored Aston Martin has all the resources and capabilities to be competitive but is currently falling short.
“We have the same possibilities as everyone else, the same budget, good facilities but we are not doing a good job at the moment,” he insisted.
“But I think the regulations are working and in 2026, maybe we see a mix, some people more competitive than now and some people less.
“But it will be always one or two teams dominating the sport. This is Formula 1 so always the best people win and at the moment Red Bull and McLaren. Now they are the best.”
With little to fight for given its position in the championship, Aston Martin is now channeling more of its resources towards 2025 and the development of its future contender, a shift highlighted by Alonso’s teammate Lance Stroll.
“We’re trying to find performance in the car for the remaining nine races,” Stroll said. “There’s still a lot of points up for grabs.”
“But this is also the time of the year that the focus shifts to ’25 and, the development for the ’25 car. So there’s a lot, going on back in Silverstone right now.”
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