Analyzing Aston Martin’s Performance Enhancement in the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix

The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola saw a surprising fifth and sixth place qualification for Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, thanks to a strategic tyre choice by Aston Martin. But how authentic is ‘s improved performance?

Introducing Pirelli’s New Tyre Compound – The C6

Imola welcomed the introduction of Pirelli’s new-for-2025 C6 compound, a softer tyre than its predecessor, the C5. Designed to spice up action on street circuits and avoid one-stop races, the C6 was a bold move by Pirelli to help Imola, a track known for its processional racing.

While teams went into the weekend with apprehensions about the C6 compound’s durability in qualifying, it performed well during Friday practice. However, as the pace increased, it became clear that the C5, the designated medium tyre this weekend, was at least as quick, if not quicker, over one lap and more consistent.

This inconsistency with the C6 tyres puzzled Pirelli, as data didn’t indicate a significant drop-off in the final sector due to degradation.

Aston Martin’s Tyre Strategy – A Key Factor in Qualifying Success?

Aston Martin‘s strategic decision to keep an extra set of medium tyres instead of a second set of hards for the race proved beneficial. Both Alonso and Stroll advanced to Q3 on mediums, and then had another set available to claim a surprising fifth and sixth.

Aston Martin made this tyre choice before the weekend, with head of trackside engineering Mike Krack leading the team’s decision to stick with their guns into Saturday afternoon’s session.

Aston Martin’s Upgrade Package – A Step Forward?

In addition to its strategic tyre choice, Aston Martin also introduced a comprehensive upgrade package this weekend, which debuted on Lance Stroll’s car on Friday and was applied to Alonso’s AMR25 from Saturday morning. Initial impressions from the team indicated a positive step.

But how much of Aston’s qualifying success was due to its tyre choice, and how much is repeatable as the struggling Silverstone outfit aims to turn its 2025 season around after a rough start in the tight midfield?

Alonso’s Perspective – The Role of Upgrades in Aston Martin’s Success

Alonso felt that the team’s upgrades played a significant role, as he felt competitive with both the medium and the soft tyres. He added that while the times might be optimistic for the upgrade they brought, they were definitely not in the situation they were in at the first race.

Let’s see the pace in the race. I think it’s not as good as P5, so I’m ready to lose a couple of positions, but hopefully not too many.

Light at the End of the Tunnel for Aston Martin?

When asked whether he could see light at the end of the tunnel after 18 months with the team, Alonso said he was still more interested in what the outfit can achieve under 2026’s new regulations. He expressed his desire to be in Australia next year and win the race.

Despite some negative experiences bringing upgrades and not understanding the package and not delivering the lap times expected, Alonso seemed optimistic about this upgrade, stating that it was a step forward.