Newey points out major weakness at Aston Martin that could drag on for 2 years

When speaking to The Race, Newey said, “I think it is fair to say that some of our tools are weak, particularly the driver in the loop simulator.”

Aston Martin had a very strong 2023 season with eight podiums. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for 2024. The Silverstone based team has seemingly moved backwards in terms of developing their car. Could this be why?

He then continued explaining that the issue was that the data from the simulator did not correlate with what was actually happening, that there seemed to be a disconnect. 

Newey said, “Driver-in-the-loop simulators are used in two ways. One as a research tool, when you're looking at how you're going to design the following year's car, and how you're going to put all the tools together to better model it."

This is something Aston Martin has also struggled with since the second thrid of the 2023 season, with the team often being at a loss upon arrival at any given track with the data from the tools not matching what they encountered at the track.

He admits, “You can have the best motion system in the world, but if you don’t have the modelling to go with it, and correlation with the aero model, correlation with the tyre model and so on, it won’t be of any use.”

Formula 1 teams use simulators to help develop the car as they can practice different set-ups and tracks to drive. They can also simulate different weather conditions to test out how the car would work in other situations. If the simulator and what actually happens on track do not match up, it makes it very hard for the team to move forward. 

Newey believes that Aston Martin may suffer from this issue for two years before they can get it fixed. Should this issue persist then the team's aspirations to be a top contender by the time the 2026 regulations kick in could be pushed back to 2027 at least.