P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Few would have imagined, even when the peak of Aston Martin’s stunning podium-laden start to 2023 had long since passed, it would have the slowest car at some point in 2024. Scott Mitchell-Malm looks at what’s gone so wrong
Despite Aston Martin’s strong start in 2023, few could have predicted that it would end up with the slowest Formula 1 car in 2024. The team’s decline was evident after its brief stint as F1’s second-best team faded, and it struggled to keep up with the competition. Senior figures remained optimistic but acknowledged the challenges, pointing out that the team had a solid base for 2023 but failed to capitalize on others’ mistakes. Aston Martin’s downward trajectory in 2024 was marked by a lack of development progress, resulting in a disappointing season where it fell behind in the midfield battle. The team’s struggles were highlighted by issues like setup problems, floor spec changes, and qualifying crashes, leading to calls for corrective action to improve performance and competitiveness.
