Dan Fallows’ elimination as technical director at Aston Martin got here because the group hadn’t matched its expectations for 2024, in keeping with efficiency director Tom McCullough.
McCullough famous the ex-Pink Bull aerodynamicist’s contributions after becoming a member of Aston Martin in 2022, which carried into 2023 because the group made a concerted leap from F1’s midfield to podium rivalry.
Nevertheless, outcomes tailed off towards the latter half of final season, and Aston Martin made restricted progress over the winter because it has largely assumed a lonely vigil in fifth place within the constructors’ championship.
After a sequence of high-profile technical hires, together with the signing of Adrian Newey (his arrival anticipated in March 2025) and the addition of ex-Ferrari chassis lead Enrico Cardile, it was additionally determined that Fallows could be moved elsewhere inside Aston Martin’s hierarchy.
“The efficiency of the group this yr hasn’t been on the degree that we have all been wanting it to be at. So we have not fairly delivered there. And that is mainly been a call made by the group,” McCullough stated.
“I sat subsequent to Dan for the final two or three years since he is been right here, working intently with him, he had a extremely massive affect on the event of the ’22 automobile, the ’23 automobile, he is introduced quite a bit to the group, to be sincere.
“From that facet, it has been good enjoyable working with him. However finally throughout ’24, we have not delivered on observe to the extent that we all know we’re anticipating to and desirous to do.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24
Photograph by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Photos
“The event of those automobiles has been exhausting and finally it is a performance-based trade, is not it? And the group’s made the choice to make some adjustments.”
McCullough later defined that he felt the group had been in a position to get its head across the difficulties introduced by the AMR24, and was assured the group could be in a a lot better place for 2025.
He added that each Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll had been constant of their suggestions of the present automobile, and understood their struggles to deal with a drop in efficiency this yr.
“I actually do suppose [we’ve got a handle on the car], however the proof of that pudding’s within the consuming, is not it? So, you recognize, dwelling in a CFD and Wind Tunnel world is one factor; I feel that facet of issues is progressing fairly properly.
“It is a relative sport. So till that automobile hits the observe and also you see what it does in actuality you do not know for certain.
“However I do suppose the training we have been by way of this yr is placing us in a very good place, however clearly we’re desirous to have {that a} bit earlier in all actuality.
“I feel the 2 drivers are fairly aligned of their suggestions and the constraints of the automobile. I feel they’re each wanting a extra performant automobile, they need to be combating for factors week in, week out, and on the high finish for factors.
“And after we do not give them a automobile that may do this, they’re by no means comfortable, and we perceive it is tough.
“We’ve a number of conferences with the drivers, both on-line or on the manufacturing facility, explaining to them what we’re doing, why we’re doing, what we have discovered. Simply conserving them within the loop so that they perceive, I feel is necessary.”
