– What will the first update at Aston Martin, which will make its debut next week at the Hungarian Grand Prix, bring? According to technical genius Adrian Newey, the team could “at least move into the points, so really into the midfield.” However, Günther Steiner has serious doubts about that.
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“I believe the best they can achieve is to catch up to Williams. But even that is a big step,” said the former Haas team principal before the Belgian Grand Prix on The Red Flags Podcast. “That is just half a step towards the front group.”
“Anything beyond that would almost be a miracle,” Steiner adds clearly, referring to the large gap of the British team. “Considering they are about two and a half seconds behind the leaders: How are they supposed to make up those two and a half seconds in a few months?”
Steiner jokes: “World champion with the next upgrade”
In qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll each missed the Q1 best time by McLaren driver Lando Norris by four seconds. And even the gap to Formula 1 rookie Cadillac was still more than two seconds.
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Steiner therefore does not believe that Aston Martin will suddenly be competing in the midfield with the update. “They had four months to develop and build these parts,” the South Tyrolean recalls that the team has not brought any updates so far. “If they manage that, then they will be world champions with the next upgrade.”
Before this year’s season start, expectations for Aston Martin were high. The reason was the new engine partnership with Honda as well as the first car developed under the leadership of technical genius Newey. However, these hopes have not yet been fulfilled.
After the first nine races of the season, Aston Martin is in tenth place in the constructors’ championship with only one world championship point. Only Cadillac follows behind in eleventh place, which is still completely without points. The only point for Aston Martin so far was earned by Alonso with tenth place at the Monaco Grand Prix.
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