A wise tyre selection helped and qualify a shock fifth and eighth for Imola’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. However how real is Aston Martin’s upgraded efficiency?
Imola noticed the introduction of Pirelli’s new-for-2025 C6 compound, an excellent softer tyre than its C5, which is in flip designed to boost the motion on road circuits and keep away from races through which one-stopping is the one smart technique.
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It was a assured transfer by Pirelli to deliver its softest compound to Imola, a observe that has lengthy wanted some assist to enhance its regular processional racing. That confidence wasn’t essentially shared by all of the groups, who went into the weekend nervous about how properly the C6 compound would maintain up in qualifying.
The tyres carried out properly in Friday follow, however because the tempo ramped up into qualifying it grew to become obvious that the C5, the designated medium this weekend, was no less than as fast – if not faster – over one lap, in addition to extra constant. That’s one thing Pirelli does not totally perceive but, as the info did not point out a noticeable drop-off within the remaining sector due to the C6 tyres degrading extra rapidly.
The tyre scenario proved excellent news for Aston Martin, which had hedged its bets and ensured it stored apart an additional set of medium tyres on the expense of a second set of hards for the race. Alonso and Stroll each superior to Q3 on mediums, after which had one other set obtainable to assert a shock fifth and eighth.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingSam Bagnall / Motorsport Pictures through Getty Pictures
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Motorsport.com understands Aston’s tyre selection was made earlier than the weekend. Led by head of trackside engineering Mike Krack, the workforce caught to its weapons into Saturday afternoon’s session.
“The entire weekend has been a bit bit complicated [as to] which tyre was higher, the medium or the gentle,” Alonso mentioned. “We determined to do one gentle and one medium in every of the classes. Like this, we coated each chance.
“I believe everybody has two hards for tomorrow. We now have just one, however that is the wager you should make at [a certain] level. It is a troublesome observe on which to overhaul and we made Saturday a bit little bit of a precedence. Let’s have a look at if it pays off.”
Aston Martin additionally launched a complete improve package deal this weekend, which debuted on Lance Stroll’s automotive on Friday earlier than being utilized to Alonso’s AMR25 as properly from Saturday morning onwards, with the preliminary impressions from the workforce indicating a optimistic step.
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However how a lot of Aston’s qualifying success was all the way down to its tyre selection? And the way a lot of it’s repeatable because the struggling Silverstone outfit goals to show its 2025 season round after a tough begin on the flawed facet of a decent midfield?
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingSam Bagnall / Motorsport Pictures through Getty Pictures
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Alonso actually feels the workforce’s upgrades performed an enormous position, as a result of he felt aggressive with each the medium and the gentle.
“Possibly the instances are a bit bit too optimistic for the improve that we introduced, however we’re undoubtedly not within the scenario that we had been in on the first race,” he added. “In Miami we had been nonetheless out [in] Q1. So, undoubtedly it is an excellent day for the workforce.
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“Let’s have a look at the tempo [in the race]. I believe it is not so good as P5, so I am able to lose a few positions, however hopefully not too many.”
When requested whether or not he may see gentle on the finish of the tunnel after a patience-testing 18 months with the workforce, the two-time world champion mentioned he was nonetheless extra excited by what the outfit can obtain beneath 2026’s new rules: “I am pleased to be [in a position] to attain a number of factors, however I need to be in Australia subsequent 12 months and win the race.
“We now have had some adverse experiences bringing upgrades and never understanding the package deal and never delivering the lap instances that we had been anticipating. So, it appears that evidently for certain [this upgrade] was a step ahead.”
Extra reporting by Frederik Hackbarth
Photographs from Imola GP – Apply & QualifyingLando Norris, McLaren
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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Group
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Alexandra Saint Mleux walks within the Paddock with Leo Leclerc
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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