Aston Martin sees Singapore as chance to build on Sepang

Aston Martin believes the Singapore Grand Prix offers a chance to build on its encouraging result in Malaysia, with a circuit layout that should place less emphasis on power than several other venues on the calendar.

The Marina Bay circuit’s relatively few long straights are a key reason for the optimism. Krack said the layout should suit the car, while recognising that the weekend’s Sprint format creates added pressure. Limited practice means teams have less time to find the right set-up, and the track is expected to evolve substantially.

Singapore’s layout could play to Aston Martin’s strengths

Alonso has warned that the car’s performance can vary sharply with circuit characteristics. He said the car was unchanged from its previous outing, including its set-up and power unit, despite the sizeable difference in competitiveness between the two weekends. For Aston Martin, that makes maximising favourable layouts especially important.

The team’s Sepang result may also have been helped by the circuit’s unusually rough surface. Krack explained that the low-grip conditions shifted the balance towards lower-speed corners, where he believes Aston Martin is stronger. He also suggested that other manufacturers may have encountered difficulties.

Alonso’s eighth place was a welcome outcome rather than evidence that the team’s underlying performance had transformed. The Spaniard has scored seven points, while Lance Stroll is still seeking his first top-10 finish. Stroll reached Q2 for the first time at Sepang and also expects Singapore’s greater number of corners to suit the package, although he acknowledged that the car will still lose time on the straights.

Readers can revisit how Alonso and Aston Martin seized their Sepang opportunity as the team looks to repeat that points-scoring form.

Sprint format leaves little margin for error

The shortened practice schedule raises the stakes from the start. Krack recalled that Alonso had been quickest in first practice at Singapore last year and fourth in the next session, but stressed that those early results did not necessarily reflect the car’s eventual competitiveness. With little preparation time, Aston Martin will need to get its approach right quickly and avoid mistakes.

Alonso said the team’s season had been difficult and that performance remained circuit-dependent. His continuation with Aston Martin for 2027 has also been confirmed, as covered in our report on Alonso and Stroll’s 2027 plans.

Stroll described the morale boost from Malaysia as temporary, emphasising that the team still needs more power. For now, Aston Martin’s focus is on taking advantage of weekends where the circuit places greater emphasis on the car than on straight-line performance.