Source: Official Team Post via X
Adrian Newey Reflects on Aston Martin's Progress and Honda's Challenges
Adrian Newey is positive about Aston Martin's internal progress despite acknowledging Honda's current lag. He draws comparisons between his earlier days at Red Bull and his current work at Aston Martin.
Adrian Newey, Aston Martin's Team Principal, has offered a cautiously optimistic view on the team's recent progress, even as he notes that Honda is not quite where he hoped in terms of performance. This season has been rocky for Aston Martin and Honda, but Fernando Alonso's eighth-place finish in the rain-affected Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia provided a much-needed morale boost. However, the team faced disappointment in Singapore, hoping for better outcomes in Austin after Alonso and Lance Stroll managed P12 and P13 in the first practice session.
Newey, speaking at the FIA press conference at COTA, highlighted the positive developments back at Aston Martin's Silverstone headquarters. "I think we're making huge amounts of progress," he noted. "The team spirit, especially within the engineering offices, is very strong now. You can feel the buzz in the factory."
Christian Horner has likened the current state of Aston Martin to Red Bull during Newey's early days there, a comparison Newey finds apt. "There are a lot of parallels between when I started at Red Bull and now at Aston Martin," he said, pointing out the similarities in overcoming organizational challenges and fostering a collaborative culture.
Newey refrained from getting into specifics about the performance gap, suggesting that publicly available data already highlights the issues. "The current deficit is fairly clear," he noted, adding that a holistic view of performance involves more than just power measurements.
When asked about Honda's progress, Newey was diplomatic, acknowledging some disappointment from both parties. "It's fair to say that Honda have probably been a little bit disappointed with how much progress they have managed to make this year," he said. However, he emphasized the determination and potential within both companies to improve going forward.
In summary, Newey's comments paint a picture of a team in transition. While challenges remain, particularly with Honda's integration, there is a palpable sense of optimism at Aston Martin as they work to build a more cohesive and competitive outfit.