Red Bull’s dominance in the 2023 season so far has not pleased F1 fans very much. They have won every race, with Max Verstappen leading the championship which he has not lost since his maiden title win in 2021. Many expected Mercedes to Ferrari to be the closest challenger this year. Although Aston Martin’s sudden performance leap to boost Fernando Alonso to be the closest challenger to the Bulls ahead of anyone else is no less a miracle. Still, team owner Lawrence Stroll expects a lot more and that could be a big deterrent for the Green team.

Aston Martin has brought a big package of updates to their AMR23 car for the Canadian GP this weekend. They want to improve their performance and close the gap to Red Bull, especially on a circuit that suits their car well. However, things didn’t go as planned for either home hero Lance Stroll & even Fernando Alonso.

Alonso believed that Aston Martin has a lot of potential to unlock from its major upgrade package. Although, he & Aston could not do that as there were security issues in FP1 which lost the team’s important running time. As per Formula Passion, he told Sky Sports, “Sometimes it seems like we shoot ourselves in the foot and hurt ourselves as a sport, it’s embarrassing situations. There wasn’t time to try the updates, we practically didn’t do the PL1s: I didn’t understand what was wrong on the circuit and there wasn’t a plan B, as often happens in this sport.”

Aston Martin’s team owner Lawrence Stroll has high hopes for his home race in Montreal. He expressed that he wants to see both his son Lance and Fernando Alonso on the podium. “That’s exactly the plan. Hopefully get two cars on the podium,” he said. “I’m extremely confident. I believe the car will be very strong around the Montreal circuit, it suits our car well…”

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However, it won’t be easy for Aston Martin to beat Red Bull, who have shown superior pace and reliability so far. They also have to contend with Mercedes, who are second in the constructors’ championship and have Lewis Hamilton, who has won seven times in Canada.

Fernando Alonso & Lance Stroll’s AMR23’s new look: What are the updates and why are they important?

Aston Martin’s Montreal upgrades include a new floor, a new engine cover, and a new side pod design. The floor is designed to improve the airflow underneath the car and increase downforce. The engine cover is more streamlined to reduce drag. The side pod has a deeper and wider undercut behind the inlet, similar to what Red Bull and Ferrari have done, to enhance the cooling and aerodynamics of the car.

These changes are significant because they show that Aston Martin is willing to change their design philosophy and adapt to the new regulations that were introduced in 2023. They also show that they are confident in their engine partner Mercedes, who also brought some minor tweaks to their car.

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The Canadian GP is always unpredictable and exciting. It will be a crucial test for Aston Martin’s ambitions and aspirations. Will they rise to the occasion or fall short of their expectations? We will find out soon enough.