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 new season gets underway with the F1 Australian Grand Prix on March 14-16 but Asto🔴n Martin are not expected to be among the front-runners.

In fact, they have been tipped for a shocking start which will immediately force Newey to think t꧟wice about prioritising 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 of the afternoon, then went home. T﷽hey were comp🅰romised.

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

Stroll was 13th and Alonso was 16th on a drab third day of testing for Aston Mart🌺in.

Car design geni🌱us Newey has since started his job as Managing Technical Partner.

Aston Martin tipped to be eighth at F1 Australian Grand Prix

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

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

Kravitz hinted that the Aston Martin owner’s facial expression made it clear he was no🐈t happy with their place in the pecking order.

Aston Ma🐻rtin have been predicted to be the eighth or ninth fastest team at the Australian Grand Prix by Kravitz.

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

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

“Cowe💮ll said that while they are mostly 𒐪concentrating 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 t💟o make tꦰhis year better.

“If they get to Melbourne and they are ninth - dropping from fifth in the constructors’ - I think there will be pressure on Newey to do thatℱ.”

Newey only started his new job ꦏon March 3 and the intenti🤡on was always to focus on 2026 and beyond.

F1’s new engine reg꧟ulations begin next year offering Newey a chance to build a car, under a fresh rule-set, which is the envy of the paddock.

But he h🐽as walked into a team wꦇhose short-term pace appears to be lacking.

Williams faster than Alpine?

The f𓆏our fastest teams expected at the F1 Australian Grand Prix are McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull - they order they might finish in is debatable.

Fifth-place is set t🌞o be fough🍨t over by Williams and Alpine, Kravitz predicted.

“I am going on the Carlos Sainz race run, which was solid. Alex Albon has doneꦰ a h♋eadline time,” he explained.

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

“I am going Williams, then Alpine.”

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

“There is an argument to put Alpine ahead of Williams, which is a👍n achievement given where they were this time last year.

“That car was nowhe꧋re - well at the back, and overweight.”

Kravitz said: “You cannot 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 lear𒆙ning to do than some of the other rookies might have.”