F1 Teams Race Against Time for 2025 and 2026 Prep

Aston Martin F1 confronts two pivotal years, grappling with preparations amid industry-wide regulatory shifts.

Formula 1 teams face a significant challenge as the end of 2024 approaches. They are working on their 2025 cars to allow time for maximum development of their 2026 vehicles in light of upcoming new chassis and engine regulations.

Dan Fallows, the Technical Director of Aston Martin F1, confirms that his team is eager to swiftly design a new car, aiming to shift focus to 2026 as soon as possible, with the bulk of the work starting on January 1st.

“Yes, I believe that’s what we’ll see,” stated Fallows. “But I am sure many teams will do the same, yet we are absolutely determined to ensure the AMR25 is in the best possible shape right from the start.”

“It will be a challenge for everyone, but trying to split your resources, especially next year when we can work on both, will be a significant challenge. The amount of effort you put into the 2025 car, the amount of resources you allocate to it.”

“The last thing you want is to give engineers two problems at once because they start to forget which car they are working on and things like that.”

“It is crucial for us to ensure they have a clear objective so that they know exactly what they are working on. But we must also be highly adaptable in shifting resources.”

Switching wind tunnels will be a delicate task for Aston Martin, presenting yet another challenge as the new wind tunnel is set to become operational by the end of the year. “We can only design in one wind tunnel at a time, so we need to agree on a date when we will move from one to the other,” they explain.

“The choice of this date is obviously crucial. It means the new wind tunnel must be ready and the new models available. But yes, what we need to do is very clear, we just need to secure that date.”

The team is currently working in Mercedes’ wind tunnel and will subsequently transfer its work done in Brackley to its new facility: “We have all the options to do this kind of thing if we want. The fact is that the new wind tunnel is not ready yet.”

“By the end of the year, we will probably be able to use it. And it will be an advantage. But initially, it will be a challenge because it is a new tool. There will be a new way of working within the system.”

“It won’t be better from day one. We are also building a new simulator, which will be ready towards the end of the year. We are doing everything we can to ensure the team performs well. Next year, we must lay a solid foundation for 2026.”

“The year 2026 is a significant one, with the change in regulations. Honda will join the team. It will be a huge challenge, but we have the opportunity to create something special.”