A bad start to the 2025 F1 season in Melbourne could swiftly change Adrian Newey’s focus at 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Aston Martin, it has been predicted.

The ne🍌w season gets underway with the F1 Australian Grand Prix on March 14-16 but Aston Martin are not expected to be among the fr൲ont-runners.

In fact, they have been tipped for a shocking start which will immediately for🐲ce Newey to think twice about priღoritising 2026.

“I was going to give Aston Martin the benefit🦹 of the doubt,” Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz reported from testing in Bahrain.

“168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lance Stroll was ill, his illness made 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Fernando Alonso go first. Stroll did half 🔯꧑of the afternoon, then went home. They were compromised.

“It’s a blank canvas waiting for Newey.”

Stroll was 13th and A♔lonso was 16th on a drab third🌸 day of testing for Aston Martin.

ꦯCar design genius Newey has since started his job as Managing Technical Partnerꦿ.

Aston Martin tipped to be eighth at F1 Australian Grand Prix

Craig Slater added: “I asked [team boss] Andy Cowell if this is a car inherited by a design team no lon꧒ger in operation.”

Kravitz added: “I spoke to Lawrence Stroll. I congratulated him o💙n becoming a grandfather. I said: ‘The car looks better’...”

Kravitz hinted that the Aston Martin 𝄹owner’s facial expression made it clear he was not happy with their place in the pecking order꧙.

Aston Martin have been predicted to be t๊he eighth or ninth fastest team at the Austr✃alian Grand Prix by Kravitz.

“I am putting them, with Alonso an๊d Stroll on a good day, ahead of Racing Bulls,”💦 he justified.

“I put them eighth but they could be ninth. They have fixed some inconsistencies 💙but they haven’t fixed them all.

“Cowell said that while they are mostly concentratin🐲g🐻 on 2026, they do have the facility on early gains.

“They could✅ divert the concept team from 2026 to 2025, if Newey feels that he can 🐓be of use, and add something to make this year better.

“If they get to Melbourne and they are 🧸ninth - dropping from fifth in the co🐼nstructors’ - I think there will be pressure on Newey to do that.”

Newey only started his new job on Mar♊ch 3 and the intention was always to focus on 2026 and beyond.

F1’s new engine regulations begin next year offering Ne🦂wey a chance to build a car, 🦩under a fresh rule-set, which is the envy of the paddock.

But he has walked into a team whose short-t🐠erm pace appears to be lﷺacking.

Williams faster than Alpine?

The four fastest teams expected at the F1 Australian Grand Prix are McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bul🅘🍃l - they order they might finish in is debatable.

Fifth-place is set to be fought over by William🌠s and Alpine, Kravitz predicted.

“I am going on the Carlos Sainz race run, which was solid. Alex Albon has done a headline time,” he expℱlained.

“The Williams looks a good package. Those two drivers cꦫan see it ahead of the Alpine.

“I am going Williams, then Alpine.”

Slater said: “The counter-argument would be that the A🐻lbon lap was in and out on very low fuel, and 💮set at a more benign time of day than Pierre Gasly’s lap.

“There is an argument to put Alpine ahead of Williams, which is an achievement given where they were this time last🍸 yeꦍar.

“ꦚThat car was nowhere - well at the back, and overweight.”

🐽Kravitz said: “You cꦫannot deny that Sainz-Albon - when it comes to Melbourne qualifying - will be more dialled in than Gasly, who will be right up there, and Jack Doohan who is feeling pressure in all areas.

“There is still much more learning to do than some of the other rookies mightꦯ have.”