P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Aston Martin was the biggest surprise package at Imola, but it ultimately came away empty-handed from the weekend.
Fernando Alonso expressed disappointment over his “extreme bad luck” resulting from an ill-timed virtual safety car at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, shattering his chances of securing his first points of the 2025 Formula 1 season. Despite qualifying impressively in fifth place with the updated Aston Martin AMR25 at Imola, Alonso’s race was hindered by the VSC intervention affecting his strategic tire change on lap 12 of 63.
Teammate Lance Stroll, who qualified eighth, faced a similar predicament and finished a disappointing 15th due to the mistimed VSC. Both drivers were vulnerable at the restart after opting to remain on track, missing out on potential points finishes.
Alonso acknowledged the competitiveness of the car and managed to make up ground post-VSC, overtaking several midfield contenders in a brief span. Despite the setbacks, he viewed the race as a step forward in performance compared to earlier in the season.
The Aston Martin team, led by Andy Cowell, debated the missed opportunity of pitting under the VSC but remained optimistic about the car’s improved speed, aiming for a stronger showing at the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix.
