During the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix weekend, the Aston Martin Formula 1 team will debut its latest technical upgrades, which have been specifically developed for the AMR25. These updates include a brand-new front wing that will be tested exclusively during Free Practice 1 at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The task of evaluating this new aerodynamic component will fall to Spanish driver Fernando Alonso, who will compare the new wing to the current specification used in previous Grands Prix.
This new component was designed and manufactured at Aston Martin’s Silverstone-based facilities. However, the team has made it clear that the objective is not to use the new front wing configuration throughout the entire Belgian Grand Prix weekend. Instead, the primary goal of this test session is to gather essential aerodynamic and handling data under real track conditions. The team aims to use the collected data to better prepare the updated front wing for its full race debut at the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest the following weekend.
The Spa-Francorchamps circuit, nestled in the Ardennes forest, is well known for its high-speed nature and low-downforce aerodynamic requirements. Because of this, it is not considered the most suitable track to evaluate components specifically designed for medium-to-high downforce circuits. The team views Spa merely as a functional testing ground for this particular update, rather than a venue where the component’s full performance can be properly judged.
Aston Martin has also opted to continue using the older specification of the car’s floor during the Belgian round. The newer floor version will instead be held back until the race weekend in Budapest, where the higher aerodynamic load characteristics of the track should provide a more ideal environment for the updated package.
Speaking about the development program, Aston Martin’s technical consultant Andy Cowell provided further insight into the team’s approach. He stated: “We have a new front wing, which will essentially serve as a test item for this weekend. Given that this is a sprint race format, we want to ensure that we properly prepare the car for both the sprint and the main Grand Prix. Therefore, Fernando Alonso will run the new front wing in FP1 and perform comparative tests with the existing version. If any uncertainties arise, we will analyze the data as quickly as possible.”
Cowell went on to clarify that the nature of the Spa-Francorchamps layout makes it unlikely that the team will adopt the new component for the remainder of the weekend. “This circuit demands very low levels of aerodynamic drag,” he explained. “If we remain uncertain after the initial comparisons, we will continue to use the current wing that we know well. I believe that is the direction we will ultimately take. We would rather stick with a configuration we trust than risk introducing a part not suited to this layout.”
Nonetheless, the data gathered during the first practice session at Spa will be extremely valuable for the Aston Martin team. It will allow engineers and aerodynamicists to fine-tune the new front wing’s behavior ahead of its planned competitive use at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Hungaroring is a slower, twistier track with far higher downforce requirements than Spa, making it a more relevant environment for evaluating the potential gains offered by the revised aerodynamic concept.
In summary, the new Aston Martin front wing is an important development step in the team’s ongoing efforts to enhance the performance of the AMR25 during the second half of the 2025 Formula 1 season. While its use will be limited to a single free practice session at Spa, the information gathered will directly influence how the team approaches its setup and upgrade strategy moving forward—particularly as the calendar heads to more downforce-dependent circuits like Budapest.
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