Alonso Sets Sights on 2025 After Tough Zandvoort Race

Fernando Alonso has already begun planning for the 2025 season with Aston Martin following a challenging Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Despite his best efforts, Alonso managed to secure just one point, finishing in 10th place. The race, marked by a lack of pace and a difficult start, has prompted the two-time world champion to focus on future improvements as the current season begins to slip away from Aston Martin.

1. A Tough Race for Aston Martin

Aston Martin entered the Zandvoort weekend with both cars starting in the top 10, but the team struggled to keep up with the competition on the banked Dutch circuit. Fernando Alonso and his teammate Lance Stroll both lost positions at the start, with Alonso being overtaken by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and later losing another spot to Nico Hulkenberg due to an undercut. Although Alonso eventually reclaimed his position from Hulkenberg as the German driver faced tire issues, it was clear that Aston Martin was not on par with the top teams.

Key Points:

• Both Alonso and Stroll lost positions at the start.
• Alonso battled back to secure a single point in 10th place.
• Aston Martin’s pace was not competitive compared to the top teams.

Alonso’s start was particularly sluggish, a rarity for the experienced driver, which saw him drop behind Gasly early on. The race was a constant struggle for the Spaniard, who admitted that Aston Martin’s performance was not up to par.

2. Refocusing on the Future

With nine races remaining in the season, including three sprint events, Alonso and Aston Martin find themselves with little to play for in the constructors’ championship. Currently sitting in fifth place, the team is comfortably ahead of Red Bull, with a 40-point cushion, but trails fourth-place Mercedes by a daunting 202 points. The stark reality has led Alonso to shift his focus to 2025, acknowledging that closing the gap to the top four teams this year is unlikely.

Strategic Focus:

• Gathering data to improve for next season.
• Realistic expectations for the remainder of 2024.
• Long-term planning for a competitive 2025 campaign.

Alonso emphasized the need to understand the car better and use the remaining races to gather valuable data for next year’s project. With the current season presenting limited opportunities to challenge the top teams, the focus has shifted to developing a stronger car for the future.

3. Lance Stroll’s Difficult Weekend

Lance Stroll also had a weekend to forget at Zandvoort. In addition to a poor start that saw him lose positions early on, the Canadian driver was penalized for speeding in the pit lane, adding five seconds to his race time. Unfortunately, the penalty made little difference, as Stroll finished well outside the points in 13th place.

Stroll’s Struggles:

• Penalty for speeding in the pit lane.
• Finishing in P13, outside the points.
• Focus on improving performance for the next race.

Stroll’s race was a reflection of the team’s overall struggles, with both drivers unable to match the pace of the leading midfield teams. After the race, Stroll admitted that the team needs to investigate the issues and work on bringing additional performance to the car.

4. Looking Ahead to Monza

With Zandvoort behind them, Aston Martin is now turning its attention to the upcoming race at Monza. Known for its high-speed straights and demanding corners, Monza will be another challenging circuit for Aston Martin. The team is determined to keep pushing and find ways to improve, even as their focus shifts more towards 2025.

Monza Preparation:

• Debriefing from Zandvoort to identify areas of improvement.
• Strategic planning for Monza’s unique challenges.
• Continued development with an eye on the future.

Alonso and Stroll both recognize the importance of using these final races to prepare for next season. With the team’s focus now firmly on the long-term, the goal is to gather as much data as possible and make the necessary adjustments to return to competitiveness in 2025.

Conclusion

The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort was a challenging race for Aston Martin, but it has also served as a turning point for Fernando Alonso and the team. With little to play for in the current season, the focus has shifted to the future, with Alonso already looking ahead to the 2025 campaign. As Aston Martin prepares for Monza and the remaining races, the goal is clear: to learn, adapt, and come back stronger next year.