F1 mid-season review: Early light fading at Aston Martin?

Aston Martin has undoubtedly been the shock of the season having climbed the Constructors' standings to third at the halfway stage.

Fernando Alonso got off to a stunning start with a podium at the Bahrain Grand Prix and added a further five to his tally, though none of those came after the Canadian Grand Prix.

Team Principal Mike Krack and Performance Director Tom McCullough have pointed to a step backwards with a recent upgrade package that has dented its results relative to rivals Mercedes and Ferrari in the race for second in the Constructors' standings, whilst the emergence of McLaren as a threat has seen Aston Martin drop to the lower reaches of the top 10 on occasion.

But the recent downturn in form must not overshadow the remarkable rise for a team that was seventh in the Constructors' last season behind Alfa Romeo.

Had it been for a different rain pattern and strategy at the Monaco Grand Prix, Alonso could well have taken away Red Bull's perfect record for the season with a landmark victory for the British manufacturer.

Improvements will be needed when racing returns in the Netherlands to stave off the threat of Ferrari and McLaren, but the future remains bright.

The state-of-the-art new factory complex at Silverstone is now functional which should give the radically bolstered workforce a new verve to take its quest for championship success a step further into next season.

There is also the anticipation of the upcoming partnership with Honda from 2026 that will keep sights locked on finding success. In terms of potential, Aston Martin could be the most exciting team on the grid.

Fernando Alonso

Any doubts about whether Alonso could still perform at the highest level have well and truly been quashed this season.

The two-time champion has been relentless, with his qualifying performances well-backed by six podiums in the opening 12 events.

A points tally of 149 points is good enough to take third in the Drivers' championship at this stage of the season - one point ahead of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and 40 behind Red Bull's Sergio Perez.

Alonso switched 'El Plan' from Alpine to Aston Martin having seen the potential in Owner Lawrence Stroll's plans and it seems to be paying off, given the French manufacturer's step backwards this year.

The next step in his quest will be a first Grand Prix win in over a decade - though this will need a good slice of luck to happen as of yet.

Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll earned respect from all corners of the F1 world when battling through the pain barrier in the opening round having quickly recovered from broken bones in his hands and big toe - injuries sustained in a pre-season accident.

The Canadian would have been hampered by those limitations throughout the opening half of the season as his rehabilitation clashed with the rigorous demands of such a stacked calendar.

But in between poorer performances have been starring roles, including twice out-qualifying Alonso and out-racing the Spaniard once - when the Aston Martin's finished sixth and seventh in Spain.

Because his father is the Owner, Stroll will always come under more scrutiny than perhaps his peers would in similar situations and whilst he has been thoroughly outperformed by Alonso - a 102-point difference - there is sufficient mitigation to hold off on casting judgement until the end of the season.