HALF TERM REPORT: Aston Martin – After a low-key start, can Aston Martin get themselves back in the mix?

Formula 1

Best moment

Given how quickly the season has moved on, it’s easy to forget that Alonso started a Grand Prix from third on the grid earlier this year, with the two-time world champion enjoying arguably his most competitive weekend so far around the Shanghai International Circuit.

After qualifying P3 for the Sprint and challenging for a top-three finish until colliding with Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, Alonso secured another second-row grid slot for the Grand Prix itself, bringing a rare high point for Aston Martin across the 14 rounds up to this point.

READ MORE: Former Mercedes Power Unit chief Andy Cowell joins Aston Martin as new CEO

That aside, there was the morale-boosting double points finish for the outfit at the Canadian Grand Prix, where Alonso came home sixth and Stroll seventh – their best combined result of the year – in a dramatic, rain-hit encounter.

Worst moment

You could argue that one of Aston Martin’s worst moments followed in the China race when they put Alonso on soft tyres rather than hards during a second Safety Car period, which forced him to make another stop compared to his rivals and blew a golden chance to shine.

But there were also particularly challenging back-to-back weekends in Spain and Austria, where Aston struggled to get on top of upgrades and lacked the pace to even challenge for points, prompting plenty of head-scratching back at the squad’s all-new HQ.

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