Can Aston Martin go from dangerous to competitive while considering a change of director?

Fernando Alonso had to abandon China due to the lack of sensitivity caused by the vibrations. Honda is working, but the improvement will take months and Adrian Newey could stop being the team director to deal only with the technical aspects.

The on-board camera of the number 14 Aston Martin during the Chinese GP showed Fernando Alonso letting go of the steering wheel several times, especially after the 20th lap. The reason: the tremendous vibrations experienced by the AMR26 travel through the chassis and reach the riders’ extremities. The Spaniard finally retired in the 32nd of the 56 laps agreed in Shanghai. Lance Stroll, teammate of the two-time Asturian champion, said that the sensation is like being electrocuted. This is the team of millionaire Lawrence Stroll.

The situation did not go unnoticed by the International Automobile Federation. According to the Italian site Formula Técnica, the entity decided to carefully analyze the telemetry of the two green cars to find out if the health of the drivers is at risk. The problems lie with the Honda power unit and its battery. Aston Martin’s numbers are a sample: of the 228 laps they should have completed in main races (counting the two cars) they could barely complete 105.

Fernando Alonso warned that they would only be able to get out of the bottom in three or four months. According to European media, Honda could allocate part of the money planned for other categories in which it intervenes (such as MotoGP) to inject it into improvements to the F1 power unit. The problem is that, if the budget limit is exceeded, the sanctions will fall on Aston Martin’s side.

The situation between Honda and Adrian Newey, director of the English team, is tense, even though Pedro de la Rosa, team ambassador, was temporizing: “There are better engines, but it doesn’t mean it stays that way all year round. We are more united than ever with Honda and we will get out of this,” the former driver told the SER network.

The next date will be the Japanese GP, in Suzuka, a circuit that belongs to Honda. At home, the Ala brand can hardly show a better face. Perhaps stopping the vibrations will allow the drivers to finish the race, even if that alone does not generate competitiveness, as Mike Krack, chief engineer, said: “Vibrations are not something that costs us seconds. Maybe we are conservative, but it doesn’t cost many seconds.” Aston Martin has serious problems and the solutions are far away in terms of time. The April break will be piecework for Honda and the team. Improving the present is urgent for the team, but it must start by giving its drivers a car that does not put their health at risk.

Newey was not in China, something that was already on Aston Martin’s agenda. In any case, the English engineer would be behind the hiring of a team manager so that he can dedicate himself completely to the technical part. The name of Andreas Seidl, former McLaren director, came up and could be the one chosen after Newey offered the position to GianPiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s race engineer and Red Bull’s competition chief. Lambiase rejected the offer because he feels comfortable on the energy drink team. Another candidate is Jonathan Wheatley, current director of Audi. Although he is satisfied with his work in the four rings team, he could accept it to return to live in England for personal reasons (Audi is based in Switzerland).