Aston Martin is set to recapture lost performance with a big Singapore GP upgrade

Aston Martin executed a remarkable transformation during the winter break, vaulting from a seventh-place standing to an impressive second in 2023. The team’s fortunes appeared to have taken a bright turn as they secured an impressive six podium finishes in the initial eight races, solidifying their position as the second-fastest contender on the grid, just trailing the dominating Red Bull.

However, a perplexing reversal of fate struck Aston Martin following the Canadian Grand Prix. Their aspirations for respectable finishes, let alone podiums, dwindled drastically. This unexpected downturn confounded observers, leaving the racing world in a state of disbelief.  Fernando Alonso, who had been leading the mid-field, securing third place in the standings, suddenly found himself facing pressure from behind, with Lewis Hamilton trailing by a mere point.

Many attributed this sudden decline to a flawed upgrade package that Aston Martin introduced in Canada, which appeared to push the team down the order. Yet, according to Motorsports Italy, the erosion of Aston Martin’s pace can be directly traced to the FIA’s clampdown on their employment of a ‘flexi-wing’. 

This innovation, introduced after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, involved a front wing that evidently contravened the F1 Technical Regulations. To reclaim their competitive edge, Aston Martin announced plans to unveil a fresh wing design in Singapore, with hopes of reigniting their rivalry against Ferrari and Mercedes for the runner-up position. 

Discover: Mike Krack reveals the stark truth behind Lance Stroll’s struggle to keep up with Fernando Alonso

Aston Martin denies Fernando Alonso’s claim that the new tyre compounds have affected their pace

The Article 3.2.2 of the F1 regulations explicitly mandates that “the aerodynamic influence of any component of the car not considered to be bodywork must be incidental to its main function. Any design which aims to maximise such an aerodynamic influence is prohibited.” The use of a flexible wing by Aston Martin allowed them to reduce drag on straightaways by regulating airflow over the wing. The airflow pushed the wing downward as the car sped along straights, decreasing drag and increasing the car’s peak speed. 

Following a lacklustre showing at Silverstone, Fernando claimed that the new Pirelli tires adversely affected not only his team but also Red Bull. He posited that the mid-season shift in tire construction led to the abrupt performance decline. These new tires were introduced by the FIA to address tire failure concerns, aiming for greater durability. Despite Alonso’s claims, the Mike Krack– led team distanced themselves from this perspective, asserting that the new tire compounds were unrelated to their loss of performance. 

Recently, Aston Martin managed to salvage some pride with an impressive top-five finish at the Belgian Grand Prix. Engaged in a four-way tussle for the runner-up spot alongside Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren, the team now battles to recover from the substantial setback caused by the FIA’s ‘flexi-wing’ prohibition. Wealthier competitors have successfully implemented effective upgrades, compounding the challenges faced by the team.

In case you missed it:

• WATCH: Lewis Hamilton enjoys F1 summer break teaching Roscoe to share his strawberries
• Mike Krack backs underperforming Lance Stroll despite a mammoth performance gap with Fernando Alonso

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