As part of an effort to overcome its recent struggles, Aston Martin returned to an older car design from Japan’s Grand Prix during Brazil’s race – following several races without scoring points.
As we near the Qatar Grand Prix and look ahead to an impressive finish to their season, the Silverstone team remains optimistic of doing just that.
Aston Martin Aims for Significant Points in Final 2024 F1 Races
With just two races left in the season, Aston Martin finds itself in 5th place in the Constructors Championship with 86 points. Their lead driver, Fernando Alonso, holds the 9th position in the drivers’ championship with 62 points, while his teammate, Stroll, is in 13th place with 24 points.
Following a challenging year, the team’s immediate goal is to secure as many points as possible in the concluding part of the 2024 season.
Vegas Disappointment Fuels Hope for Future: Alonso Reflects on Team’s Efforts
Fernando Alonso emphasizes the value of every point for the team, citing consistent difficulties. Despite being in a position to score points in Las Vegas, an incident pushed him just outside of the scoring positions.
Alonso’s last top 10 finish was at the Singapore Grand Prix, marking a series of disappointing results for both the Spanish driver and his teammate Stroll, who hasn’t scored since the Hungarian Grand Prix in July.
“Every point is like gold for us at this moment, even if we’re not competing for significant positions. It’s crucial to reward the efforts of our mechanics and everyone in the team after such a tough period,” said Fernando Alonso.
The team managed to take lessons from the disappointing outcomes in Las Vegas, identifying areas for improvement that could pave the way for scoring opportunities in the upcoming races in Abu Dhabi and Qatar. Notably, their performance in qualifying has been highlighted as a critical factor for achieving better results.
In Qatar, improvement was evident as both drivers made it into the second qualifying stage, though still fell short of advancing further, with Alonso securing a P11 start and Stroll starting in P14 due to traffic issues during qualifying.
Alonso Looks Forward to 2026, Aiming to Compete with Verstappen
With the 2024 season deemed a learning curve, Alonso’s enthusiasm for the 2026 season signals Aston Martin’s ambition to be in contention for the World Championship, driven by potential new regulations. Alonso highlights Max Verstappen’s strengths but remains hopeful of challenging him in the future.
Adrian Newey’s arrival as Aston Martin’s Managing Technical Partner, even with limited preparation time before 2026 season starts, sparks great optimism within their team. His impressive track record of successes and groundbreaking designs bode well for Aston Martin’s competitive comeback.
Even during its most trying of periods, Newey has shown his resolve by investing and taking strategic decisions designed to return them to championship contention by 2026. His appointment alone speaks of an unswerving dedication that cannot be shaken.