Aston Martin splash out in shallow F1 season

Aston Martin endured a dismal season with the team looking stuck in a downward spiral, with it appearing that 2026 cannot come soon enough for the British outfit. 

There is not a lot that can be said about Aston Martin's on-track performances this year, apart from it being very average. 

Yes, fifth was claimed for the second consecutive season in the constructors' standings but for a team spending the amount owner Lawrence Stroll is, better is not only expected, but required.

Fernando Alonso, again, led the team superbly, with his fifth-place finish in the second round of the campaign in Saudi Arabia being Aston Martin's best result of the season.

For the bulk of the year, Lance Stroll was again stuck in the two-time world champion's shadow, raising further questions on what it will take for his father to drop him. 

Whilst a better driver alongside Alonso would not have saved Aston Martin's season, it would have resulted in considerably more than just 94 points for the team. 

After the highs of 2023, Aston Martin endured a year of mostly lows, with its 94 points scored being 186 fewer than it claimed last year.

There is one high, and its a significant one, the signing of Adrian Newey from Red Bull, who will join the team in March 2025. It is a big money move, but one which could save Aston Martin.

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll

It quickly became apparent that Aston Martin did not design a car which would be capable of podium finishes, a feat Alonso achieved eight times in 2023. 

The Spaniard extracted everything he could from the AMR24, leading to ninth in the drivers' standings on 70 points. 

He scored points in 14 of the 24 races, whilst Stroll secured a top 10 finish on just six occasions. 

To add to the Canadian's woes, he went point-less across the last 11 races, one of which he failed to start in embarrassing circumstances.

Aston Martin's worst weekend was undoubtedly in São Paulo, where both drivers crashed in qualifying. 

A miracle was performed by the mechanics to repair both cars for the race, only for Stroll to somehow crash on the formation lap. 

He had momentarily recovered the car, prior to becoming beached in a gravel trap on the exit of Turn 4. 

Compared to one another, Stroll scored just 24 of Aston Martin's 94 points and was defeated 19-5 in his and Alonso's qualifying head-to-head. 

In the races, Alonso again came out comfortably on top, but ever so slightly less convincingly at 17-7.

2025 too soon for Newey

Looking ahead to 2025, and it is difficult to expect anything but a similar campaign to this year. Alonso conceded several times that next season looks set to be a very difficult one. 

Aston Martin's downward spiral is perhaps the most unusual since the current regulations were introduced, given how perfect the initial AMR23 appeared to be last year. 

Ever since its mid-season upgrade last year, Aston Martin has failed to really challenge the big teams, something it wants to be. 

As is the case with other teams, the Silverstone-based outfit appear to have lost track on how to develop a strong car in the current regulations. 

With Newey joining in March, the designer will not have time to be involved in the development of its 2025 car and is expected to fully focus on the new power unit regulations in 2026.

Next year is not the big goal for Aston Martin, that is 2026, when Newey's influence will not only be visible, but potentially crucial. 

Add to that the arrival of Honda, the future does look very bright for Aston Martin. But it still has next year to get through, in what could be a season of just hoping for the best.

Fifth should be the target, whilst eyes will also be on Stroll to finally push Alonso, rather than languish behind.