Imagine pouring everything you have into a project, only to realize you need to take a step back to truly succeed. That's the tough call Fernando Alonso is making, urging Aston Martin to strategically "rest" and refocus now, even though the 2025 season isn't over. Why? Because the real prize is 2026.
Aston Martin's performance this year hasn't exactly set the world on fire. While they're in the thick of a battle for sixth place in the constructors' championship – currently trailing Racing Bulls (72 points) and ahead of Sauber (55 points) with their own 68 – Alonso believes this battle is of secondary importance. Winning this particular fight might feel good, but it won't secure long term success.
Instead, Alonso is advocating a bold strategy: treat the remaining races of the 2025 season as high-stakes test sessions. He wants the team to use this time to experiment, iron out any operational kinks, and perfect their execution. The goal? To be absolutely flawless when the radically new 2026 Formula 1 era arrives, complete with revamped chassis and engine regulations. Aston Martin is banking heavily on these new regulations to catapult them into contention.
"On the weekends we still need to perform at our best level," Alonso explained. "We need to keep the motivation high. We need to improve in some things that we need operational-wise to get better for next year. So we need to use these six races as a test in a way." He's essentially saying: let's learn everything we can, even if it means sacrificing some points now.
And this is the part most people miss: Alonso emphasizes the importance of rest. "Even if we are racing hard and we're traveling for these next two months, we need to also think about having some rest as well early, now in the last part of the year, to start in January with the batteries fully charged." It's a marathon, not a sprint, and preventing burnout is crucial for a successful 2026 campaign. Think of it like an athlete tapering before a major competition – they reduce their training load to maximize their performance when it truly counts.
Following struggles at Monza and Baku, Aston Martin managed to score points in Singapore. But what about the Circuit of the Americas? With its mix of high-speed corners, can Aston Martin build on that momentum?
Lance Stroll's initial reaction was far from enthusiastic: "I don’t know, we’ll see." After some pressing, he elaborated: "The lower-downforce circuits are more of a challenge for us. The higher-downforce, the car comes alive a little bit more." This suggests the team's current car performs better on tracks that require more aerodynamic grip.
Alonso, however, remained cautious, highlighting past difficulties at the Circuit of the Americas: "We had some challenges in the last two years here – even when in 2023 the car was performing well, we struggled here. We need to do something different than the last two events here to really score points." He acknowledges the team's previous struggles, implying they need a new approach to conquer this particular track. "At the same time we come from Singapore being on the fast pace there. It’s a sprint weekend, which I think normally is an advantage for us." The sprint race format, with its shorter distances and fewer strategic options, could potentially favor Aston Martin.
When Alonso mentioned "do something different," he was referring to adjustments to the AMR25's setup. But here's where it gets controversial... he declined to provide specifics. "I think the level of complexity of the set-up will not be understood, so I don't think that we need to explain it here." Is he being secretive to protect competitive advantages? Or does he genuinely believe the intricacies are too complex for the average fan to grasp? Some might argue that withholding this information creates an unnecessary air of mystery, while others might appreciate his focus on the big picture.
Ultimately, Alonso's message is clear: Aston Martin needs to strategically manage its resources and prioritize long-term development over short-term gains. But is this the right approach? Will sacrificing potential points in 2025 truly pay off in 2026? Or is Alonso underestimating the importance of maintaining momentum and team morale in the present? Let us know what you think in the comments below. Do you agree with Alonso's call for a strategic "rest," or should Aston Martin be pushing for every point possible right now?
