Latest news with #AMR25
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Revealed: Aston Martin's F1 issue forcing Fernando Alonso to 'invent' overtakes
In Fernando Alonso's first Formula 1 season with Aston Martin, 2023, he claimed six podiums in the first eight races and was running third in the championship. The pickings have been more barren since then and in the Spanish Grand Prix – the ninth round of 2025 – he picked up his first points of the season. Lance Stroll had scored all of Aston Martin's points until then – a humble 14, drawn from the first two rounds. Advertisement Read Also: Adrian Newey: Lance Stroll is 'much better than people give him credit for' Heads have already rolled in Aston's technical department last season and the AMR25 car has not started the season well, seeming to have a fundamental problem with race pace. Stroll's tendency to qualify poorly and then pick up positions partially masks a trend of the car being slower on Sundays than it is on Saturdays, though the only time this season he qualified inside the top 10 (at Imola) he finished 15th. Alonso, though, has reached Q3 three times and only just got a return in the form of two points (and it would have been one but for Max Verstappen's penalty). A notable feature of the first and last rounds of this latest triple-header has been his tendency to overtake at unconventional points on the track, usually via a sneak attack. Advertisement 'We lacked top speed, so on the straights we were losing a lot,' he said in Barcelona. 'I didn't make a single overtake under DRS. They were all made in Turn 3 on the outside, which is not a normal place to overtake, but we have to invent these kinds of moves. 'Also in Imola I was out of Turn 7 when I made three overtaking [moves] in the last few laps. So we need to solve this situation and start overtaking on the straight with the DRS like everyone [else] does.' Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images via Getty Images Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images via Getty Images 'We need to improve a little bit our straightline speed and also the [tyre] degradation. As I said, Saturdays are quite competitive and Sundays we seem to take a step back. Advertisement 'So happy for today for sure, first points, good Safety Car at the end, good timing and things. But if we go back on Thursday and we redo the weekend, we need to change something on the car to be a little bit more Sunday-biased than Saturday-.' Alonso can be relied upon to highlight his own contributions to a result with the enthusiasm of a carnival barker. But both he and chief trackside officer Mike Krack alluded to the car being under-balanced, with too much understeer. It's common for teams to set up their cars to have an understeer balance at circuits such as Barcelona because the rear axle is the critical one, and some understeer can help protect the rear tyres. But when asked by if the problem was caused by dialling in too much understeer, Alonso's answer was an unequivocal 'no'. Among Aston's challenges last year was that most of the performance upgrades added to the car didn't generate the expected result. While the AMR25 is the product of the previous design leadership, at Imola a new floor and bodywork package represented the first definitive output of the latest regime and the new wind tunnel. Advertisement It was never going to be worth half a second a lap, but CEO and team principal Andy Cowell talked about it in terms of a lab experiment to enable to stress-test its tools and procedures. What's becoming apparent is that the car has a weak front end – i.e. understeery – but it isn't doing a great job of thermally managing its rear tyres either, and at the same time it is relatively drag-inefficient. The combination of slow straightline speed and indifferent tyre management is a killer on Sundays. Lack of aerodynamic efficiency is killing the AMR25 on two fronts: it's slow in a straight line, but the team can't just cut downforce because the car will slide more, making tyre performance worse. 'The difference between the qualifying and the race is quite simple,' said Krack after the Barcelona race. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Advertisement 'In qualifying you put new tyres, new tyres, new tyres, new tyres. You mask a lot of the problems that the cars are having. 'This is not only for our car, this is for all the cars. That is also why you see the small gaps in qualifying. Because all the weaknesses the cars are having are being covered by the new tyres, by the new rubber. 'As soon as the tyres become two laps, three laps, four laps old, the weaknesses become more and more. That is why you see that the cars in the front are just going. That is why the field is spreading so much.' Noticeably, Aston Martin has been 'scrubbing' its race tyre sets – essentially giving them a short run, usually during practice, to put a heat cycle through them. The process of bringing the tyres up to working temperature and then cooling them again changes the visco-elastic properties of the rubber. Advertisement It would be overly simplistic to say this improves grip and life characteristics on a linear scale, but there is a belief it can make the tyres less sensitive to graining and thermal degradation. Peak grip is lower, but the aim is to make the duration of the peak longer. Aston Martin's chief tyre performance engineer Jun Matsuzaki has been regarded as a key asset for many years and has been with the team since its Force India days, when he helped Sergio Perez become a 'tyre whisperer'. Before that he worked for Bridgestone. It was Matsuzaki who first worked out that Pirelli's rear tyres in 2013 could run longer stint lengths when mounted in the opposite direction they were designed to rotate. So it's unlikely that Aston's performance deficit is being caused by not getting the best out of the tyres in terms of trackside operations. It's a question of mechanical and aerodynamic design. Alonso, for one, seems to believe the team now has a handle on the problem: 'I think we know what is happening…' Read Also: F1 Spanish GP analysis: Red Bull forced McLaren to unleash its full potential To read more articles visit our website.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO ANNOUNCES COREWEAVE AS OFFICIAL AI CLOUD COMPUTING PARTNER
Aston Martin Aramco unveils partnership with CoreWeave as Official AI Cloud Computing Partner CoreWeave will help the team relocate existing data centre to their first large-scale cloud computing facility The team's new wind tunnel will be named the CoreWeave Wind Tunnel CoreWeave's cloud platform is purpose built for AI and accelerating computing innovation SILVERSTONE, England, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aston Martin Aramco has today announced a multi-year partnership with CoreWeave, the first AI Hyperscaler, who joins the team as Official AI Cloud Computing Partner. CoreWeave is the leading AI cloud platform, purpose-built for the scale, performance, and expertise needed to power AI cloud innovation and meet the demands of accelerated computing. With Aston Martin Aramco, CoreWeave will support the team in relocating their on-premises computing infrastructure to a new, large-scale cloud computing environment. This move eliminates hardware constraints and enables the team to operate with greater agility, efficiency, and performance. Through its cloud computing infrastructure, CoreWeave will provide the speed, performance and expertise to unlock AI-accelerated engineering opportunities for Aston Martin Aramco. Supporting efficiency of car design, utilising this new cloud infrastructure will ultimately reduce the time it takes to design components on the car. The Aston Martin Aramco wind tunnel which came online in early March, will be named the CoreWeave Wind Tunnel. CoreWeave's branding will appear on the AMR25 from this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix. Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team: "We're thrilled to welcome CoreWeave to the team. In the fast-paced world of Formula 1, AI cloud computing infrastructure is a decisive edge, and CoreWeave's cutting-edge platform, purpose-built for accelerated computing, will be instrumental to unlock new levels of performance. United by a fierce ambition to win, we're excited to harness the power of AI cloud computing together, transforming drive and passion into on-track results." Brian Venturo, Founder and the Chief Strategy Officer, CoreWeave: "As a lifelong Formula 1 fan and a passionate supporter of Aston Martin, it's an incredible opportunity to partner with a team that represents the cutting edge of performance and innovation. Formula 1 is a proving ground for what's possible when talent, technology, and ambition align. With CoreWeave's AI cloud platform, we're excited to unlock new opportunities in data-driven engineering and help accelerate Aston Martin Aramco's pursuit of excellence on and off the track." About Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team About CoreWeave Photo: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Fernando Alonso in disagreement with Lewis Hamilton as retirement feelings made clear
F1 legend Fernando Alonso has given his thoughts on the idea of racing into his 50s as he looks to make the most of the final years of his career with Aston Martin Fernando Alonso has made it clear that he doesn't see himself driving into his 50s like Lewis Hamilton has predicted. The 43-year-old Spaniard insists he has no plans to stay on the grid at that age, instead choosing to take things "year-by-year" from this point forward. Back in 2023, Hamilton - now 40 - adopted a "never say never" attitude when asked about racing into his 50s, even suggesting that both he and his long-time rival could still be on the track in their sixth decade. Alonso, however, is adamant that won't be case. "I don't see myself [competing in F1 ] at 50," the Aston Martin veteran - and two-time world champion - told "I will drive as long as I feel fast and competitive and the team needs me at the wheel... That's why we kept open the possibility as well." Alonso, who turns 44 in July, has had a tough start to the 2025 season, having yet to earn a single point. He's the oldest competitor on the grid, boasting 22 full seasons of top-level experience. This campaign also marks two decades since his first championship triumph, and while the AMR25 has underperformed, his love for racing is still evident. Alonso is hopeful for the team's future, especially with renowned engineer Adrian Newey now in their ranks and a major overhaul of regulations arriving in 2026. "I wanted to race this year for sure and next year for sure because of the change of regulations. But after 2026, I don't know. I will go season by season. I will see how I feel, how motivated I am," he said. "Now I am very motivated, but I cannot guarantee that for three or four years and compromise the team. So we said let's do it until the end of 2026." Alonso's honesty underscores his commitment to Aston Martin's long-term success, a team he believes is building toward becoming championship contenders. He has also expressed a willingness to contribute in any way possible. "We can sit and talk honestly between all of us and check what is best for the team. I will always be in a position to help the team with whatever they need," he insisted. "If it's behind the wheel, I will extend the contract if they think that way, and I feel motivated." He continued: "My contract is much longer than my racing career, so I will stay with this team for many, many years in a different role. If that means we can win a World Championship even when I'm not behind the wheel, I will still feel very proud of the project." Although results have been hard to come by lately, Alonso remains enthusiastic about the team's development. "I did enjoy 2023, being competitive. And I do enjoy now the process that we are in and the building of this team of the future," he said. His decision to leave Alpine for Aston Martin in 2023 was based on the belief that the team offered a more promising short-term path to victory, especially considering his limited remaining time in the sport. "I don't have a long-term future, I will not race forever," he admitted. Driven by a desire to win more races - and potentially a third championship - Alonso remains sharply focused. Still, if he begins to feel a drop in performance or motivation, he won't hesitate to make way. "If I don't feel fast enough, I will be the first one to raise my hand," he stressed. At least through 2026, Alonso is fully committed, betting on the regulation changes and Newey's arrival to elevate Aston Martin's status. While Hamilton keeps the door open for a long career, Alonso's strategy is more measured: race with purpose, aid the team's ascent, and bow out on his own terms - well before turning 50.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Inside Aston's struggles: Why the team has lost progress since 2024
It's 2023, and five races in, Aston Martin has already secured four podium finishes and 102 points in the standings, establishing itself as the second-best team on the grid behind Red Bull. Two years later, and again, five races in — that tally has more than halved, with the British team earning a measly 10 points. It's a clear sign of regression from the Silverstone-based team. Although it's true that Aston Martin is already looking ahead to 2026 with its new car and regulations which offer the outfit the opportunity to start from scratch, 2025 cannot be treated as a 'wasted' year. Advertisement The team at Aston is still under construction, with many new engineers joining in recent years, and more key figures expected to come on board in the coming months. In that case, 2025 becomes a built-in adjustment period to get all the pieces moving in sync, something that cannot be achieved in just a few weeks. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Colin McMaster Colin McMaster That being said, the most alarming statistic from 2025 thus far is that after five race weekends, Aston Martin is the team that has improved the least compared to last season, with an average gain of just two and a half tenths compared to 2024 — nearly a third of the improvement achieved by the team in ninth place, Red Bull, which has improved by six tenths. Advertisement These numbers shouldn't be taken as absolutes though, as the resurfacing of tracks in both China and Japan significantly lowered lap times. But averaging data across all teams actually reveals an even clearer picture: Aston has been the team with the least improvement in four of the five races held so far, with the exception of Australia — where Haas was caught off guard by an unexpected bouncing issue. This trend is further solidifed when focusing on specific races, like in Saudi Arabia, where the AMR25 was the only car that failed to beat last year's lap time. Undoubtedly, rising temperatures played a role, but it's also true that Pirelli had brought softer compounds that weekend, offering more grip over a lap. 1 Alpine –1.637 –3.231 –1.989 –0.577 –1.450 –1.777 2 Williams –1.393 –3.738 –2.099 0.459 –0.956 –1.545 3 McLaren –1.219 –3.524 –1.494 0.227 –0.785 –1.359 4 Mercedes –1.178 –3.710 –1.448 0.524 –0.909 –1.344 5 Racing Bulls –1.118 –3.855 –1.844 1.142 –0.356 –1.206 6 Sauber –0.824 –3.033 –1.023 1.311 –0.397 –0.793 7 Ferrari –0.430 –3.362 –1.383 1.010 –0.121 –0.857 8 Haas –0.280 –2.979 –1.783 1.743 –0.484 –0.757 9 Red Bull –0.434 –2.843 –1.214 1.244 –0.178 –0.685 10 Aston Martin –0.422 –2.460 –0.789 2.092 0.457 –0.224 Yet when you're the only team that hasn't improved on your 2024 lap time — and if you're actually half a second slower — the situation is worrying, especially looking towards the future, since with more races there are sure to be similar issues to follow. What's behind the struggles? To understand the root of these struggles, you need to take a step back. The AMR23 proved to be a car that always ran with high-downforce setups — its strength in low-speed corners, although it paid the price on straights and in fast corners. Advertisement Engineers tried to correct those weaknesses in the 2024 season car (AMR24), improving both straight-line performance, especially with DRS open, and speed in fast corners. The compromise didn't pay off, though, partly due to a troubled development process, which saw Aston fall further behind. With the AMR25, Aston itself took a step back, returning to basics in hopes of regaining performance in slow corners, aided by a redesigned front wing aimed at correcting understeer. But the AMR25 doesn't seem to have fully embraced this new approach, despite the shift in direction made by engineers over the winter. 'I would say that the first four Grands Prix, the slow-speed corners were probably our weakest part of the track. But there are also some concerns as well of bouncing and some other stuff that we are facing from from time to time. We are working hard on improving those. Here in Jeddah, there's a lot of high speed corners,' Fernando Alonso said ahead of the Jeddah race. Telemetry showing Fernando Alonso's qualifying data Telemetry showing Fernando Alonso's qualifying data Gianluca D'Alessandro Gianluca D'Alessandro Advertisement In an attempt to increase aerodynamic load engineers made the AMR24 too sensitive — at times difficult to drive — which even led the team, for example, to backtrack and abandon some new parts in favor of older, more effective ones to help in balancing the downforce-to-driveability. It essentially forced Aston to spend the rest of the season alternating between two different floor designs: one for slower tracks and another for faster ones. One of the main goals for 2025 was to make the car more drivable — something that has seen some progress — but at the same time, it still lacks the necessary increase in downforce to keep up with rivals' development pace. It could mean that Aston Martin needs to maintain a more rear-loaded setup, both to improve balance and compensate for a possible lack of downforce. But Aston had one of the highest-downforce rear wings in Jeddah, sticking to a solution very similar to last year's, while most teams opted for lower-downforce wings this season. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images Advertisement After the first difficult five races, Aston Martin held a meeting with the team's top management to decide which development path to follow for 2026, while also trying to salvage a campaign that, so far, has brought very little satisfaction. 'Can we get more out of the car? Yes, I think we can," said Andy Cowell, team principal of Aston Martin after the Saudi Arabian GP. "I think there are many areas where we look back over the last races this year and we can get more out of the car. Is it enough to win races? No, but is it where we can push forward a bit more? Yes it is." Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Peter Fox - Getty Images Peter Fox - Getty Images Newey won't work on the AMR25, but can he still have an impact? Cowell added in his post-race interview, 'We're learning about this car and we're learning about all the new equipment that we've got in the factory and how to push things forward." The team principal specifically mentions facilities as one of the key elements needed for the team to make improvements and progress on the '25 car. This year, Aston Martin inaugurated its new wind tunnel, which went into operation around the Australian GP after a lengthy testing period. Advertisement Although Adrian Newey — who officially joined the team last month — will not be directly involved in the development of the 2025 car, Cowell emphasized that his input will be crucial in improving and implementing every piece of new tooling and equipment that Aston has invested in over recent seasons, with the goal of becoming a championship-winning team in the future. The problem is that time is running out and any results we might see, might not arrive until 2026. Read Also: What standout factors are making F1's 2026 engine rules a major political battleground? What Yuki Tsunoda has learned alongside Max Verstappen It's 50 years since Lella Lombardi became F1's first and only female point scorer To read more articles visit our website.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
'Enjoying the new wind tunnel': Aston Martin's Andy Cowell optimistic as new Silverstone wind tunnel fuels team hopes of F1 resurgence
Andy Cowell (via Getty Images) Aston Martin's Formula 1 aspirations are being given a lift by its brand-new Silverstone wind tunnel . The British team, struggling with a difficult beginning to the 2025 season, now hopes that its in-house, cutting-edge facility will assist in revolutionising the performance of the AMR25 and speed up development for the 2026 car under new regulations. Team principal Andy Cowell claimed that they are 'enjoying the new tool'. Aston Martin targets F1 return with Silverstone wind tunnel breakthrough Aston Martin's new wind tunnel went fully operational in mid-March, a key milestone in the team's ambitious infrastructure growth. In an interview with team principal Andy Cowell highlighted how the Silverstone facility is giving the team a 'clearer' and 'more representative' picture of their aerodynamic performance than the old setup at Mercedes' Brackley headquarters. 'We've transitioned to this tunnel, and there's hardware coming through that we'll see at the circuit in the coming races,' Andy Cowell said. 'They'll never tell you exactly the same, but we are enjoying the new wind tunnel. It's opened our eyes to a few characteristics. Then you've got to do the work. If you've got a new test facility that gives you a clearer view, a more representative view, you've got to then do aero development work. You've got to change shapes, make parts, understand, and then make full-size components to bring to the circuit and measure in this complex environment. We're in that process, enjoying the new tool, and look forward to making a faster race car with it.' Nevertheless, Andy Cowell acknowledged that changes in test venues have downsides. The AMR25 was initially conceived in a different wind tunnel, and the new data calls for realignment. Still, the Silverstone plant will be highly contributory to Aston Martin's efforts to rise again into contention, both in terms of this year's competition and building up the 2026 challenger. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo Problems on the track call for improvements The 2025 Formula 1 season has been unkind to Aston Martin up to this point. The team lies seventh in the constructors' championship after five events. Lance Stroll displayed early promise with a total of 10 points through the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix but has been unable to escape Q1 in the recent qualifying sessions. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, has yet to score a point this year, with his best finishes being a pair of 11th places. Andy Cowell did not shy away from the team's struggles. He explained that the intricacy of Formula 1—from aerodynamics to tyre behaviour—makes a comeback extremely difficult. Still, he has hope, considering many performance challenges can still be sorted out during the ongoing rules cycle. Also read: Adrian Newey's iconic drawing board reaches Aston Martin ahead of his joining, confirms Andy Cowell While Aston Martin's 2025 Formula 1 season has not been perfect by any means, the opening of the Silverstone wind tunnel represents a major watershed. With a sharper understanding and a more sophisticated facility now entirely online, the team is committed to translating lessons into performance gains. As they continue with updates and future development, Aston Martin is looking to soon return to the sharp end of the grid, equipped with both ambition and the appropriate tools for the task.
