Aston Martin is looking to reverse its fortunes after a very disappointing 2024 compared to the brand’s expectations of securing its first victory. It was not just the fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship that dashed the team’s ambitions but the collapse in points compared to the previous year: 98 versus 280, a staggering 182-point drop. A real blow, considering that in 2024, the gap to fourth-placed McLaren was only 22 points, while this year, the deficit to Mercedes has become a massive 370 points. The “Green Machine” was closer to Alpine and Haas than to the top four teams.
The team endured a difficult season, with staff being moved from the old facility to the new, state-of-the-art Technology Campus. Restructuring is never painless, as it takes time to calibrate modern systems and bring them up to full operational capacity.
Adding to the struggles was the flawed aerodynamic concept of the AMR24, which explains why Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were mere spectators. The car was designed to favor high-speed performance, a choice that backfired, prompting the AMR25 to return to a low-speed philosophy in hopes of recovering lost ground.
Meanwhile, team owner Lawrence Stroll has been assembling a technical staff that in 2026 will aim to propel Aston Martin to the top. In March, the “wizard” Adrian Newey will arrive, while Enrico Cardile, who resigned from Ferrari, is already in place as the new technical director, replacing Dan Fallows. Andy Cowell has taken over as team principal and general manager, while Mike Krack has been demoted to trackside operations. In short, a revolution has reshaped the leadership, strengthening a team with high ambitions. The 2025 car must reposition Aston Martin on the grid.
Mechanically, the AMR25 is a revised version of last year’s car: the chassis is from the AMR24, and the rear end remains Mercedes-supplied, with the same engine, gearbox, and suspension as the previous season. The rear suspension retains its push-rod design, with only the carbon covers of the suspension arms modified in shape and angle to suit airflow changes from the new sidepods. The front suspension remains push-rod, avoiding the extreme pull-rod approach adopted by teams like Ferrari.
Now, let’s analyze the new features: Aston Martin has modified the cooling system of the Mercedes power unit, shifting more radiators above the engine, significantly slimming down the sidepods.
There are two reasons for this: improving sidepod efficiency and shifting the weight balance further rearward. The air intake, now topped by the customary visor, has been reduced to little more than a letterbox. A vertical slit, popular among teams, is also present but does not extend down to the floor like on other cars.
The sidepod shape has been aggressively sculpted, featuring a deep undercut while retaining the Canyon frame that conceals the internal cooling system. The Halo-mounted winglets have disappeared, replaced by a Ferrari-inspired “Cobra” concept that is setting a trend in 2025. The airflow around the cockpit has been redirected, with an intake behind the Halo pillar helping to clean up losses and cool auxiliary radiators at the rear.
The “bazooka” exhaust follows the McLaren MCL38’s design, featuring vents for hot air release, while the airbox maintains the classic Mercedes “twin-ear” design. The engine cover retains a jagged vertical fin.
The front wing, when viewed from above, has a highly twisted shape. The nose has been revised, with the tip blending into the second element. Special attention has been given to the endplate, where the intersection with the flaps has been optimized to enhance outwash and improve front-end response in yaw.
The braking system remains Brembo for the calipers, while the discs continue to be supplied by Carbon Industrie, as per team tradition.
The rear wing is supported by a single-pillar mount, and the version presented will be the same used in Bahrain testing. This solution already complies with the FIA’s stricter deformation limits, set to take effect from the Australian Grand Prix.
The floor—after Aston Martin experimented with seven different versions in 2024, consuming much of its development budget—has been redesigned to align with the car’s new aerodynamic philosophy, aiming for maximum performance in low-speed corners.
In summary, the “Green Machine” adopts bold aerodynamics on a largely unchanged chassis. Will it be enough to climb back up the standings?
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will take to the track tomorrow in Bahrain for a 200 km filming day, where they will get their first impressions of a car that shouldn’t hold too many surprises.
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