Aston Martin ended 2025 with a double points finish, but the result at the Abu Dhabi GP was not enough to redeem a decidedly disappointing year. Lawrence Stroll’s team took a clear step back in the rankings, finishing seventh in the Constructors’ Championship after two consecutive fifth-place finishes. This negative outcome did not escape the attention of Fernando Alonso, who did not hold back in assessing the season before turning his focus to the eagerly anticipated 2026 campaign, which will see the debut of Aston Martin’s first car designed by Adrian Newey, who will also assume the role of team principal.
Alonso: “One of the worst finishes of my career”
At Yas Marina, the two-time world champion delivered a solid performance. After battling with Charles Leclerc in the opening laps, Fernando Alonso settled into sixth place, holding off pressure first from Gabriel Bortoleto and then Esteban Ocon: “It’s fantastic to end the season with a strong sixth place here in Abu Dhabi. Our race pace hasn’t always matched our qualifying performance lately, so a solid Sunday here is very positive.”
The points earned in Abu Dhabi moved Fernando Alonso up to tenth in the Drivers’ Championship, but this minor progress did little to soften his view of 2025. Speaking to the media in Spain, Alonso was blunt: “It’s one of the worst finishes I’ve ever had in my career. Finishing tenth in the Drivers’ World Championship is terrible for me. I think the only thing I can do is finish ahead of my teammate. There are 20 drivers; ten finish ahead of their teammate, ten finish behind, and that’s pretty much the only measuring stick you have, isn’t it?”
While this evaluation may seem harsh given his past—Alonso finished tenth in 2016 during his second McLaren stint and repeated it in his first Alpine season—he is unequivocal about his ability to compete at the top next year: “I have no doubts,” the 44-year-old said. “I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I’ve been doing this for 24 years, driving the same cars as my teammates. Rarely have I had problems. I’ve raced in other categories and rarely had issues. I drive a car every weekend and rarely have problems. Anyone who doubts me hasn’t seen the last 24 years.”
Stroll regrets: “We could have finished even higher”
Like Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll closed the 2025 season with a solid showing. The Canadian delivered a very long first stint, 42 laps, and climbed several positions towards the end, finishing ninth before being dropped to tenth after receiving a five-second penalty for changing his line multiple times on the straight while battling.
Stroll believes a slightly different strategy could have improved his result: “It was a fun race, with some spectacular overtakes and a good team strategy today, and it was great to take a point in the final race at Yas Marina. In hindsight, we could have pitted a lap or two earlier and finished further up in the points. This year was tough for the team; we weren’t as competitive as we wanted, so ending the season with a positive result and seventh in the Constructors’ Championship is encouraging.”
Mercedes farewell after 17 years
Mike Krack, awaiting Newey’s arrival as team principal, summarized Aston Martin’s 2025 season: “We finish the season in seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship. Thanks to the team on track and everyone at the AMR Technology Campus for their hard work and dedication this season. It hasn’t always been easy, but we never stopped pushing.”
Among the many changes coming in 2026 for Aston Martin is the switch to Honda power units, ending a 17-year partnership with Mercedes. “Looking ahead to the 2026 season, I would like to thank our friends and colleagues at Mercedes AMG HPP for supplying the power unit to the team for the past 17 years,” added Mike Krack. “Thank you for the collaboration that shaped this chapter of our history.”
Leave a Reply