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Fernando Alonso has signalled positivity amid initial struggles for Aston Martin, after Lance Stroll stated the team’s new Formula 1 challenger needed four seconds worth of extra pace.
Fernando Alonso remains positive despite early struggles for Aston Martin, as Lance Stroll highlights the need for an extra four seconds of pace for the team’s new F1 car. The AMR26, designed by Adrian Newey, has faced scrutiny and intrigue since its debut in January. Newey cited last-minute completions as causing issues with the car’s aerodynamics.
Aston Martin is facing challenges with the new Honda power unit and the task of developing additional components like the gearbox. Stroll’s initial testing saw limited laps completed, prompting the call for significant performance gains. Alonso admits it’s hard to gauge Aston’s current position, noting significant variability in lap times.
Alonso suggests that Aston’s potential improvements could come from optimizing small settings that may unlock significant performance gains. While cautious about Melbourne’s pace, there is hope for progress in the second week of testing. The team will aim to gain a clearer picture during the upcoming three-day program starting on February 18th.
