Gary Anderson admits he’s a ‘fan’ of one change Aston Martin recently made to Fernando Alonso’s F1 car

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Aston Martin have had a frustrating start to the 2025 Formula 1 season. But it seems the team have made a step forward as the summer break nears its end.

The Silverstone outfit have struggled to return to the heights they saw in 2023, when Fernando Alonso scored eight podiums for the team. Despite Lawrence Stroll’s £800m investment, they have fallen back in development.

Alonso did not score points in 2025 until Barcelona, while teammate Lance Stroll secured solid results in the opening two races. The Canadian did not finish in the top 10 again until Silverstone, where Aston Martin grabbed their first double-points finish of the season.

They repeated that feat at the Hungarian GP, where the team enjoyed their best weekend of the season. Alonso and Stroll made it to Q3 and finished fifth and seventh respectively.

Alonso congratulated Stroll as the result moved Aston Martin into sixth in the constructors’ championship. On paper, it may seem like a one-off, but their recent changes could allow for ‘large gains’ during the rest of the season and into 2026.

Gary Anderson is a ‘fan’ of Aston Martin’s slot gap to Fernando Alonso’s front wing, it could be a ‘proper step forward’

Former F1 designer Gary Anderson assessed Aston Martin via The Race, where he discussed the team’s new slot gap added to the front wing.

Essentially, the change allows airflow to travel above or underneath the wing, rather than around it. This gives the drivers a more balanced car and better aerodynamic performance, which Anderson is a ‘fan’ of.

“I don’t think Aston Martin has gone to the full extent that it could have with this slot gap area arrangement,” he said.

“It is more likely about what could be done quickly and easily, as opposed to a package that was optimised in the windtunnel and CFD. Effectively, it’s something that I would call a cut and shut.

“I’m not expecting Aston Martin’s Hungary level of performance to be its new normal. However, it might just be the first proper step forward relative to the opposition that we have seen from Aston Martin over the last two seasons.

“As a team it lost its way with the ground-effect regulations but even though it hasn’t yet been optimised, the introduction of this slot gap (which I am a fan of) into the nose to front wing interface is a good step that indicates where the improvements need to be made.

“And that’s good news not only for the rest of the year, but also 2026 because while the regulations are dramatically different this gives it a better depth of knowledge to draw on.”

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso’s life outside F1 from net worth to Cars 2

Aston Martin linked with huge changes ahead of the 2026 season

As Anderson notes, Aston Martin’s changes to the front wing could put them in a strong position for the 2026 regulations. The team are being backed to make a huge step forward next year with Adrian Newey and Honda on board.

Lawrence Stroll’s investment in the team’s facilities at Silverstone and personnel make them an outfit to keep an eye on. But Juan Pablo Montoya thinks Aston Martin should hire Christian Horner, as he claims they are lacking a ‘leader’.

Honda are not ‘behind the eight ball’ at Aston Martin, despite rumours suggesting that are down compared to their rivals for 2026. The team look to be going places, and they have ambitious plans for the future.

Aston Martin want to buy a second F1 team, much like Red Bull have done with Racing Bulls. They plan to have Alonso run the team after his retirement from the sport.