A sensible tyre selection helped Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll qualify a shock fifth and sixth 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, a good softer tyre than its C5, which is in flip designed to boost the motion on road circuits and keep away from races by which one-stopping is the one wise technique.
It was a assured transfer by Pirelli to convey its softest compound to Imola, a observe that has lengthy wanted some assist to enhance its ordinary 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 observe, however because the tempo ramped up into qualifying it turned 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 would not absolutely perceive but, as the information did not point out a noticeable drop-off within the last sector due to the C6 tyres degrading extra rapidly.
The tyre state of affairs proved excellent news for Aston Martin, which had hedged its bets and ensured it saved 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 out there to say a shock fifth and sixth.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
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 just a little bit complicated [as to] which tyre was higher, the medium or the mushy,” Alonso stated. “We determined to do one mushy and one medium in every of the periods. Like this, we lined each chance.
“I believe everybody has two hards for tomorrow. We now have just one, however that is the guess it’s essential to make at [a certain] level. It is a tough observe on which to overhaul and we made Saturday just a little little bit of a precedence. Let’s examine if it pays off.”
Aston Martin additionally launched a complete improve package deal this weekend, which debuted on Lance Stroll’s automobile 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.
However how a lot of Aston’s qualifying success was right 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 incorrect aspect of a decent midfield?
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Alonso actually feels the workforce’s upgrades performed a giant function, as a result of he felt aggressive with each the medium and the mushy.
“Possibly the instances are just a little bit too optimistic for the improve that we introduced, however we’re undoubtedly not within the state of affairs that we have been in on the first race,” he added. “In Miami we have been nonetheless out [in] Q1. So, undoubtedly it is an excellent day for the workforce.
“Let’s examine the tempo [in the race]. I believe it is inferior to P5, so I am able to lose a few positions, however hopefully not too many.”
When requested whether or not he might see gentle on the finish of the tunnel after a patience-testing 18 months with the workforce, the two-time world champion stated he was nonetheless extra concerned about what the outfit can obtain underneath 2026’s new rules: “I am blissful 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 unfavourable experiences bringing upgrades and never understanding the package deal and never delivering the lap instances that we have been anticipating. So, plainly for certain [this upgrade] was a step ahead.”
Extra reporting by Frederik Hackbarth
Photographs from Imola GP – Apply & Qualifying
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