Aston Martin issued ‘difficult’ admission Fernando Alonso will not want to hear

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Fernando Alonso is already growing unhappy with the situation at Aston Martin, so he will not like what Stoffel Vandoorne has had to say about the picture in Silverstone.

After a fantastic start to their relationship to kick off the 2023 campaign, results have been much harder for Alonso to secure with Aston Martin. The 43-year-old stood on the podium at six of his first eight races with the team, yet has only returned to it at two of the next 30.

The best result that Alonso has registered so far in the 2024 Formula 1 season was also fifth place in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in round two. He and teammate Lance Stroll have also scored points in just four of the past 10 Grand Prix each, leaving Aston Martin in fifth place.

Stoffel Vandoorne admits Aston Martin are in a ‘difficult period’

Aston Martin will likely spend the final eight rounds of the 2024 season striving to just stay fifth in the constructors’ championship. They are 218 points behind Mercedes and the top four teams, but Aston Martin sit 40 clear of Visa Cash App RB and the midfield contingent.

Such is their situation that Alonso’s admitted Aston Martin ‘need to work’ but does not feel any major upgrades are coming. Now, Vandoorne has revealed he believes Aston Martin are in a ‘difficult period’ while they finish building a new wind tunnel at their Silverstone factory.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Vandoorne told Formule1: “I’ve been here since the beginning of last year but there are a lot of changes going on within the team. Not only in terms of infrastructure but also within the team with a lot of new staff.

“We are also almost finished with the new wind tunnel that should be operational this year, everything is being prepared for a bright future.

“We all know that Formula 1 doesn’t change from one year to the next and sometimes you have to go through a difficult period before you see the result somewhere. I think we are in that phase now.”

Vandoorne is heavily involved in the erection of Aston Martin’s new wind tunnel as part of his role as the team’s reserve driver. It is an integral aspect of his job with Felipe Drugovich also conducting simulator testing and further responsibilities as the team’s other reserve driver.

Fernando Alonso will not like Stoffel Vandoorne’s admission about Aston Martin’s pain

Vandoorne’s admission that Aston Martin must stomach a ‘difficult period’ will not be music to Alonso’s ears. The Spaniard has already shown his frustrations with where the team sit in the pecking order and Alonso doubts Aston Martin will improve enough in the 2025 season.

While the Spaniard has taken chances to study rival cars in recent races, with Alonso peering at McLaren’s floor at Zandvoort, Aston Martin’s engineers feel they can design an improved car without imitating another team’s. But it will be a while yet before their wind tunnel runs.

So, 2025 may prove to be yet another year in the ‘difficult period’ that Vandoorne alludes to. But the 2026 season and Formula 1’s regulation changes could mark the start of the ‘bright’ future the Belgian believes is on the horizon with Adrian Newey about to join Aston Martin.