Aston Martin: The greatest progress of all in the coming years?

Although the Aston Martin team failed to score any points in the showdown at the Hungaroring, it was nevertheless clear that the Silverstone-based team had taken a huge step forward. The reason is obvious: the team brought a comprehensive upgrade to the track, which ensured that Fernando Alonso made it through to Q2 in qualifying for the first time this year.

The two-time world champion finished fourteenth and described the progress as the first step on a long journey. And his team-mate Lance Stroll, who finished thirteenth, explained: “We’ve taken a huge step forward, and whilst we’re not the fastest in the midfield, we’re back in the midfield.”

If David Coulthard is anything to go by, the British team will achieve many more improvements in the coming years. On the “Up To Speed” podcast with Jolie Sharpe, the former F1 driver said: “Mark my words, Jolie, they’ll make the most progress of anyone over the next two years. And I predict they’ll be back winning F1 races within the next two years.”

The building blocks for success are in place; after all, team owner Lawrence Stroll has invested heavily in the infrastructure and had a facility built that meets the very latest standards and houses a state-of-the-art wind tunnel. The team has also been strengthened, with the Canadian millionaire recruiting several top-class engineers, including design genius Adrian Newey, under whose leadership many world championship-winning cars have been developed.