Fernando Alonso Makes Urgent Aston Martin Call After Spanish GP Innovation

Fernando Alonso finished ninth at the Spanish Grand Prix, collecting his first points of the 2025 Formula 1 season and avoiding the worst start of his long F1 career. Driving for Aston Martin, the two-time world champion started the race from tenth on the grid at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Despite gaining a position by the finish, Alonso said he had hoped for more speed and a better result after feeling stronger in qualifying. The 42-year-old Spaniard struggled with serious front tire degradation, especially on the front left, which he said lost performance after just seven laps into each stint.

Alonso had to get creative during the race, pulling off bold overtaking maneuvers around the outside of Turn 3. None of his moves came through the DRS, which is typically the preferred method for passing in modern Formula 1.

Alonso explained after the race that Aston Martin’s lack of straight-line speed made it impossible for him to complete overtakes on the main straights using DRS like the front-running cars. Instead, he described having to “invent” alternative ways to gain positions, with all of his passing moves taking place in non-traditional zones around the circuit.

Throughout the 2025 season, Aston Martin has been unable to close the gap to McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull. Their straight-line speed deficit first appeared noticeably at Imola, where Alonso also had to attempt daring passes out of Turn 7 late in the race.

Those issues have persisted across multiple tracks, and the team currently lags behind the top four constructors in the standings. Alonso stressed the need for urgent improvements, stating that resolving the lack of top speed will be key if the team wants to challenge for more points and podiums as the year progresses.

The Spanish Grand Prix saw Max Verstappen win after a chaotic start that included contact between Verstappen and George Russell, a point heavily discussed across Formula 1 news this week. Lewis Hamilton, now racing for Ferrari, also faced challenges during the weekend, as noted in the recent Hamilton Ferrari coverage.

Meanwhile, Alonso, one of only three F1 world champions currently on the grid alongside Hamilton and Verstappen, continues to compete at the highest level more than two decades into his career.

Looking forward, Aston Martin will be working to boost their car’s straight-line efficiency ahead of upcoming events. The 2025 F1 calendar features circuits where top speed is even more vital, including the high-speed straights of Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps.

Alonso remains determined, urging his engineers to bridge the performance gap so he can fight wheel-to-wheel with rivals under DRS, rather than relying on audacious moves in the corners.

With his ninth-place finish, Alonso now has points on the board for 2025 and aims to climb higher in the standings over the coming races. Aston Martin faces a test to deliver the upgrades needed to support their lead driver’s ambitions and push the team forward before the summer break. The team’s in-season development push is critical, much like the ongoing NASCAR in-season challenge that tests mid-season adaptability.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.