Why Aston Martin’s surge has left its F1 rivals feeling conflicted
OPINION: The fight for victory in Formula 1’s season opener in Bahrain was about as one-sided as it gets, with Red Bull proving to be in a class of its own. But there was another topic of conversation buzzing around the paddock last weekend: just how did Aston Martin emerge as its closest challenger?
As F1 fans were left awestruck by the remarkable story of Fernando Alonso’s podium charge in his first race for Aston Martin, there was a sense of both shock and awe from competitors about just what it had unleashed with its AMR23. From being the seventh best team in F1 last year, Aston Martin has made the kind of leap forward that happens once in a generation. This is Brawn GP levels of progress.
On the positive side, it has proved to be an inspiration for some in the pitlane. Chiefly, it has put to bed fears that emerged last year that, even under F1’s cost cap regime, there was little hope for any squad outside the big three to be fighting regularly for podiums.
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