Lance Stroll admits uncertainty over the AMR25’s competitiveness, suggesting Aston Martin could shift focus to 2026 if results disappoint early.
Lance Stroll admitted during the launch of the Aston Martin F1 AMR25 livery (set to be unveiled on Sunday) that he has no idea what to expect in terms of competitiveness this year.
It has now been almost two years since the team lost its way in development, and the strong results (back-to-back podiums) from early 2023 feel like a distant memory.
Has the reshuffled technical team managed to improve the car in line with simulation expectations?
“That’s the million-dollar question. To be honest, I have no idea what to expect from the car. That’s why we’re heading to Bahrain next week to find out, and then we’ll see where we stand in the race in Australia. I have a big question mark over our position in the field.”
Between the shakedown and the race, there are still three days of winter testing—crucial, according to Stroll.
“Yes, because we really want to understand this new car, as testing is limited until Australia. These test days will allow us to go through the car completely, making adjustments within specific windows. There will be a lot of work to do.”
“As for the results, we’ll have to see where we stand. However, we need to set realistic targets based on how this new car performs on track.”
Stroll acknowledges that his team could quickly shift focus to 2026 if there isn’t much to expect from the AMR25.
“The results will tell us when to make the switch. The 2026 season is a real opportunity for all teams. We have a lot of work to do on the 2025 car—that’s our main focus today, of course. But during the season, we’ll shift our attention and look toward 2026, leaving 2025 behind, because we need to get it right to be well-positioned for those regulations.”
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Stroll Unsure of AMR25 Pace, Eyes 2026 Shift Stroll Unsure of AMR25 Pace, Eyes 2026 Shift Stroll Unsure of AMR25 Pace, Eyes 2026 Shift
