The Aston Martin team experienced its most fruitful weekend of the 2025 Formula 1 calendar at the event in Hungary, though the reasons behind this upturn are unclear.
Just a week earlier, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were the last two to qualify at Spa-Francorchamps, but at the Hungaroring they achieved fifth and sixth positions on the starting grid – which was their most impressive showing since they achieved fourth and third respectively during qualifying for the 2023 Brazilian GP. On this occasion, their times were incredibly close to the pole position time, differing by only a tenth of a second.
This performance wasn’t coincidental; although they never presented a challenge for the race win, or a spot on the podium, they secured fifth and seventh places in Hungary, which again, was their strongest performance since the Sao Paulo 2023 race (where they achieved third and fifth positions).
The team’s overriding emotion could be described as a mixture of bewilderment and relief, as they struggled to understand the factors behind this surge in performance.
“It definitely came as a surprise, a pleasant one at that. The positive aspect is our competitiveness and speed,” Alonso reflected. “The area of concern is that we are not sure why.
“The upcoming week at the factory [before the summer break] will be dedicated to analysing the specific differences between the Spa and Hungary races, including any changes to the car, set-up, and aerodynamic components used.”
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
“Of course, a key element for us was the new front wing introduced this weekend. If this front wing contributed significantly to our improved performance, it is indeed very encouraging, although further investigation is required.”
The newly introduced high-downforce front wing was anticipated to enhance performance on the circuit with tight turns of the Hungaroring, but perhaps not to the extent seen. Another factor was the reintroduction of the floor last used at Imola, despite Alonso’s affirmations of the simulator’s accurate correlation for all modifications, including the newer floor.
“The performance of every upgrade we’ve introduced on the track has matched the predictions from the wind tunnel perfectly,” he asserted. “We’re confident in predicting the car’s performance with any component we choose to install during a race weekend.”
Therefore, the primary influence, as suggested by Alonso, may be the unique characteristics of the track. Spa-Francorchamps is known for its lengthy straights interspersed with a variety of corners, including numerous high-speed bends, marking it as one of the quickest circuits in the racing calendar. Meanwhile, the Hungaroring ranks as the second slowest F1 track due to its sequence of medium and low-speed turns.
An Increase in Spirit, but performance must remain steady
The Belgian GP result brought positive outcomes in different ways, with the 16 points gained lifting Aston from eighth to sixth place in the constructors’ standings – a notable rise compared to the 36 points accumulated across the initial 13 races of the season. More importantly, it significantly improved the morale of the team.
“I will not attempt to hide my concerns regarding the second half of the year,” Alonso confessed, revealing more than he previously had about the difficulties Aston Martin was facing. Previously, he had avoided discussing the seriousness of the situation for an organization with such high aspirations, though his true feelings were often evident in his tone and demeanor.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
“I won’t deny that there was a dip in morale among the team, but these last seven days have completely turned things around.”
Despite the significant boost in morale, Aston Martin’s management recognizes the necessity of preventing a return to Q1-level performances, particularly given the focus on the 2026 car in anticipation of F1’s next era of technical regulations—implying that new team member Adrian Newey will not be involved with the AMR25 at all.
“It’s unusual to see a team jump from the back to the front of the midfield within a week,” acknowledged Mike Krack, the chief trackside officer.
“We need to stay grounded. We’ve faced considerable challenges in previous races, not just at Spa. This doesn’t indicate that we’ve completely transformed our situation. I believe that circumstances played a role. I expect the midfield battle to continue.”
The upcoming Dutch GP at the end of the month will be the next stage in the midfield competition, held on the slightly faster, yet narrow and winding Zandvoort track. This event will either validate or refute the AMR25’s suitability for such circuit characteristics.
“Zandvoort will serve as an initial assessment. It’s another track where maximum downforce is essential,” Alonso pointed out. “We’ve performed well there in recent years, and I hope we can once again have both cars scoring points.”
Although the two-time F1 champion achieved second place in the 2023 race, expectations are tempered for a repeat performance this year.
Additional reporting by Oleg Karpov and Filip Cleeren
