Aston Martin has revealed its 2024 Formula 1 car, the AMR24, which it describes as an "evolution" of its predecessor and hopes will continue the progress it made in a breakout 2023 season.
The Aston Martin event kicked off a packed final week of 2024 car launches with Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull following between now and Thursday.
It proved to be the star of last year's pre-season and early races, impressing at the Bahrain test and then translating that into six podiums in the first eight grands prix, all courtesy of Fernando Alonso.
The team could not maintain that momentum and a trickier second half of the season, save for some Alonso magic at Zandvoort and Interlagos where he returned to the top three, led to Aston Martin falling to fifth in the constructors' championship.
A key focus of Aston Martin's winter has been preparing itself to maintain pace with its rivals in the F1 development race in 2024.
"We want to make sure we’ve got a good platform for development and that’s what we’ve been really focusing on," Aston Martin technical director Dan Fallows said ahead of the launch.
Another objective has been "broadening the car's operating window" across a wider range of circuit.
"We want a race car that is more of an all-rounder," Fallows explained.
"We believe the AMR24 provides the ideal platform for in-season development and a sustained season-long challenge.”
Aston Martin's new state-of-the-art windtunnel will be operational later this year and the AMR24 is the first design to benefit from being developed on Aston's new technology campus at Silverstone.
As usual, the AMR24 takes the power unit, gearbox, hydraulics and rear suspension from the not-yet-revealed Mercedes.
That rear suspension is different from 2023 as Mercedes has opted for a pushrod rear suspension (rather than a pullrod), meaning the AMR24 will follow suit.
The success of the car will be crucial in determining whether Aston Martin can keep hold of Alonso beyond 2024.
Team boss Mike Krack has made his intentions clear, saying: "we would honestly be delighted to continue with Fernando into '25 and the year after".
But Alonso is keeping his options open and will begin evaluating where his future lies after the opening few races.
Team-mate Lance Stroll will continue to partner Alonso for his sixth season with the Silverstone-based team.
The AMR24 subsequently hit the track for the first time later on Monday morning in a shakedown at Silverstone.
A solid day for the team at Silverstone 💪
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) February 11, 2024
Nico put the first 200km on the #VF24’s clock during Shakedown.#HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/ox7w0H2All
It follows Haas shaking down its VF-24 at Silverstone one day prior, and Sauber debuting its C44 at Barcelona last Friday.
