P1racenews AI automatic summary:
It was a great start to the 2023 season for Aston Martin, but they failed to keep up with Ferrari and Mercedes once they introduced their major updates after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack admits that the team was unprepared for the intense development race among the top teams in Formula 1. While they had a strong start to the season with Fernando Alonso achieving multiple podium finishes, their form dropped off when Mercedes and Ferrari introduced significant updates to their cars. The team acknowledged that challenging Red Bull for wins was a difficult task, despite Alonso’s early success. Their lackluster performances at Hungary and Silverstone allowed McLaren to surpass them. Krack explains that the team was not accustomed to being in such a competitive development race, as it is easier to make progress when running in the midfield. The team’s decision to bring a major update package for the Sprint weekend in the US proved to be too aggressive, leading to operational issues and starting from the pit lane. Overall, Aston Martin finished fifth in the Constructors’ Championship, with Alonso in fourth and Lance Stroll in tenth place in the Drivers’ Championship.
