P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Aston Martin knew its draggy car was always going to be on the back foot at Spa, but its performance is even worse than expected
Aston Martin faced challenges at Spa-Francorchamps due to its draggy car struggling on the long straights, resulting in their worst qualifying result in F1 history.
Fernando Alonso’s 19th place and Lance Stroll’s 20th were the team’s first double Q1 exit since the Miami GP and marked the first time Aston Martin has locked out the final grid row.
Despite recent progress, the AMR25’s aerodynamic inefficiency and lack of straight-line speed were evident, affecting their performance in the Belgian Grand Prix qualifying.
Their decision to compromise downforce due to rain further impacted their speed, with neither Stroll nor Alonso able to match competitors’ lap times.
Issues in the middle sector and a return to an earlier floor design may have contributed to the car’s lack of pace, leaving Aston Martin struggling to find the ideal set-up for grip and speed.
Both drivers faced challenges balancing downforce levels, resulting in compromised performance and a disappointing qualifying session at Spa.
