Stefano Domenicali has told Aston Martin to avoid pointing fingers as they deal with major problems tied to their Honda engine. Their place on the grid for Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix is now in doubt.
The team is already under strict limits, unable to run at full pace. That’s made it unlikely they’ll hit the 107% qualifying mark. And one report on Thursday even suggested Adrian Newey wanted to miss a few races, pushing for an exemption from the team’s obligations.
Talking with F1 CEO Domenicali at Albert Park, Martin Brundle called Aston Martin’s situation “critical.” It’s been over a decade since a team was deemed unfit to race — the last being Manor Marussia at the start of the 2015 season.
Stefano Domenicali tells Aston Martin to stay united as team faces early season crisis
Stefano Domenicali admits he didn’t expect Aston Martin’s struggles to be this severe. With Adrian Newey leading the team, there were higher expectations coming into the new season.
The former Ferrari F1 boss says Aston Martin must remember that it’s a ‘team sport’, stressing the importance of unity.
Domenicali has been clear about what he thinks needs to change, saying, “The only thing that, in my experience, cannot be accepted is finger-pointing.”
“We are a team sport. The only way to react positively and as fast as possible is to work together.”
Fernando Alonso gives clear message to Lawrence Stroll at the Australian Grand Prix
During the F1 Show, Simon Lazenby shared a brief moment between Fernando Alonso and Lawrence Stroll in the paddock. The team owner was looking to get a read on his driver’s mood after the first day of the new season.
“That was him communicating with Fernando a little bit earlier,” Lazenby said. “Thumbs up, thumbs down? It was a resounding thumbs down.”
Guenther Steiner, former Haas team boss, believes some of Aston Martin’s issues may come from Newey’s design choices. He pointed to potential overheating problems linked to the car’s aggressive concept.
This situation has echoes of Honda’s early struggles with McLaren in 2015. That partnership never really recovered from its poor start, ultimately ending before the 2018 season began.
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