What Aston Martin told Alonso that made him mentally skip the Austrian GP – Stunning behind-the-scenes fallout
Aston Martin ace Fernando Alonso goes to the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix with a chance to end his bleak streak of 28 rounds without scoring points in three successive races.
The 40-year-old finally got off the mark in the 2025 F1 season on home soil, as Alonso came P9 in the Spanish Grand Prix. Aston Martin also then watched the Oviedo native back up his first points of the term with another top 10 finish, as he took P7 in the Canadian Grand Prix.
But Alonso has not taken points in three consecutive Grands Prix since round six of the 2024 season. His points in Spain and Canada over the last two rounds mark the fourth instance he has ended back-to-back Grands Prix in the top 10 since taking points in eight races in a row.
The Canadian GP was also not an entirely happy hunting ground for the Silverstone crew last time out. Lance Stroll returned from injury at the Montreal native’s home race, but qualified in P18 and he then finished the race in P17 as the last car still running at the chequered flag.
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Fernando Alonso is more excited for the British GP than the Austrian GP after Aston Martin promised upgrades
Stroll and Alonso’s contrasting races at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve also raised doubts within Aston Martin about the real impact of their upgrades at the Canadian GP. The team debuted their updates back at Imola, but the AMR25 still punishes its tyres too much in a Grand Prix.
Now, Alonso is preparing for this weekend’s Austrian GP hopeful of scoring points for a third straight race. But MARCA notes that Alonso is not as excited about Aston Martin’s hopes for the Red Bull Ring event as he is for the following British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 4-6.
Several key Aston Martin figures have ‘made it clear’ to Alonso that they will provide a fresh upgrade set at their literal home race, with Silverstone right across the road from the team’s factory. Alonso has scored points in his last five races at Silverstone since he retired in 2017.
So, with Aston Martin promising him upgrades for the 2025 British GP, Alonso now believes that Silverstone’s high-speed corners will suit their car more than the Red Bull Ring will. The Austrian GP venue predominantly features medium-speed corners, except largely for Turn 9.
Aston Martin need their upgrades to deliver for Fernando Alonso and their championship position
Aston Martin are committed to developing their 2025 F1 car, despite largely focusing on the 2026 F1 regulations, having endured a disappointing start to the term. Alonso did not score his first points of 2025 until round nine in Spain, and Stroll has not scored since round two.
Alonso only scoring eight points from 10 Grands Prix and two Sprints, plus Stroll scoring just 14 points, further leaves Aston Martin down in eighth in the F1 constructors’ standings. Only Sauber (20) and Alpine (11) have claimed fewer points than Aston Martin so far this season.
Such has been the team’s plight this year that Juan Pablo Montoya expects Alonso will retire if Aston Martin fail with the 2026 regulations, given his contract for the team also expires at the end of next year. Two-time F1 champion Alonso will also turn 44 years old come July 29.
