Aston Martin hit a shocking low at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix. Both of its drivers, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, were knocked out in Q1. It was the first time in the team’s Formula 1 qualifying history that both cars ended up on the last row of the grid.
Alonso could only manage 19th place in qualifying. Right behind him was Stroll, in 20th. This marked their first double Q1 exit since the Miami GP. Even during Aston Martin’s original F1 run in the late 1950s, they never found themselves at the very back. What happened at Spa-Francorchamps was truly a new low.
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AMR25 Struggles With Spa’s Layout
The team knew Spa would be tough. The AMR25 has been struggling with drag for a while now. Its lack of aerodynamic efficiency made it especially vulnerable at a track known for its long straights and steep elevation changes.
Insiders admitted that the car doesn’t have the straightline speed needed for circuits like Spa. The results, however, were worse than expected. Alonso was half a second away from making it into Q2, which surprised even him.
Speed trap figures told the story. Stroll was the slowest in the field, topping out at just 311 km/h. Alonso wasn’t much better. In contrast, Max Verstappen ran a high-downforce setup and still managed 312.3 km/h while qualifying fourth.
ALSO READ: Verstappen: ‘Belgian GP Fightback Will Be Tough From P4’
Aero Tweaks and Setup Misfire
With rain expected on race day, Aston Martin took a gamble. They added more downforce to help with grip in wet conditions. But this came at a heavy cost—straightline speed. The setup failed to deliver the performance they hoped for, even in dry weather.
Alonso admitted they made changes expecting rain, but it didn’t help lap times. Making matters worse, the team brought back an older floor design first used in Imola. They thought it would handle Spa’s unique challenges better. But the car still lacked pace.
No Grip, No Speed, No Way Out
The car’s problems weren’t just on the straights. In the corners too, things fell apart. Alonso and Stroll both said they had no grip. As a result, they had to push harder, which led to tyre overheating. That made the car slide even more—especially during the warm Saturday session.
It was a setup nightmare. If they went for more wing, they got some grip but lost all speed. If they reduced the wing, the car became unstable in corners. No matter what they tried, the car simply didn’t work.
Stroll summed it up: “When we try for grip, we’re slow on the straights. When we go for speed, we can’t turn.”
Time for Serious Reflection
Even if rain arrives on Sunday, the team isn’t expecting a miracle. Alonso made it clear that they need to study what went wrong in Belgium. The current package didn’t perform, and this result doesn’t reflect the team’s goals for the season.
Aston Martin had shown signs of improvement in recent races. But Spa proved that the AMR25 still has deep flaws. With rival teams moving forward fast, Aston Martin can’t afford another weekend like this.
Images source: Twitter
