Aston Martin have had a worse start to the 2024 season compared to last year. However, according to former F1 designer Gary Anderson, the Silverstone-based team at least have a silver lining in terms of their current driver line-up.
Last year, Lance Stroll faced immense heat from the media and fans online. This boiled down to the fact that the Canadian-born racing driver was unable to put in the performances his teammate Fernando Alonso was able to in the AMR23.
Analyzing the performance of Aston Martin, Anderson wrote for The Race, “As for the drivers, it is more of a mixed-up performance graphic but normally Alonso comes out on top. I suppose that as a two-time world champion that should be expected, but Stroll on his day is no slouch.”
Unlike last year, Stroll has comparatively been able to match Alonso‘s pace so far in 2024 since the Miami GP. That being said, Aston Martin are lacking majorly in their chassis and aerodynamic department.
Anderson explained his point by comparing the team’s performance with other Mercedes customer teams. And the results are quite dire for the Lawrence Stroll-backed outfit.
Aston Martin falls back into the lower midfield of F1 in 2024
Halfway through the current season, Anderson delivered an in-depth analysis of all the ten teams. Coming to Aston Martin, the Northern Irish designer supplied a level playing field (power unit – to compare the likes of McLaren, Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Williams.
His verdict would be critical for Aston Martin. In the past, Aston Martin has signaled its championship ambitions on several occasions.
However, recent form leads Anderson to believe that Aston Martin’s AMR24’s closest competitor is Williams in the lower midfield of the pack. Although Aston Martin are currently struggling in 2024, their heavy investment in terms of both their driver line-up and infrastructure may help them have better years ahead.
Aston Martin vs other Mercedes-powered cars in #F1 2024 (based on fastest laps each weekend):
️ @garyandersonF1: “Aston started the season on terms with McLaren and Mercedes. But as the season progressed it’s been left behind and now it’s dropped into the clutches of Williams. pic.twitter.com/nqblyLHKBi
— The Race (@wearetherace) July 15, 2024
Further, Honda, who have been the benchmark power unit recently, will also deliver a works power unit for them from 2026 onwards. Hence, their recent slump could be temporary if the team is able to produce a strong car when the new regulations are introduced in 2026.
