Lance Stroll casts a pall over the Aston Martin: "We have four seconds to find."

In Bahrain, the Canadian didn't try to hide the difficulties his team was facing. Usually not very talkative, he was surprisingly direct in his analysis: Aston Martin According to him, it is massively behind current grid standards. "Right now, we seem to be four seconds behind the best, four and a half seconds.""He acknowledged this from the paddock at the Sakhir circuit. It's a significant estimate, even though the fuel levels and engine programs of the competitors remain unknown."

In any case, the conclusion is clear: Aston Martin needs to find more performance before the Australian Grand Prix. And Stroll doesn't believe in a miracle solution. "I don't think everything will just fall from the sky. We need to improve the car and the engine." In a context where the gaps in Formula 1 These gaps are usually measured in tenths, such a delay puts the British team in a delicate position, especially as expectations were high with the arrival of Newey and the engine partnership with Honda.

A crippling lack of rolling stock

The tests did little to dispel the doubts. In Barcelona, ​​during the shakedown, Lance Stroll only completed five laps before the car came to a halt. carIn Bahrain, he only completed 36 laps on the first day, including just three in the afternoon after the detection of an anomaly related to the power unit. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso was able to complete more laps, but without posting reassuring times. The Spaniard's best time on Thursday morning remained more than 4,6 seconds off the benchmark set by Classic Ferrari for sale.

"We probably have 400 fewer laps than our competitors.""This lack of data complicates a detailed understanding of the car and slows down the development work," emphasizes the son of the team boss.

When asked about the origin of the difficulties, Stroll mentioned "A combination of things." "The engine, the balance, the grip... It's not just one element." He does, however, admit that Honda's power unit plays a significant role, including in the car's balance issues. Downshifting behavior is said to be particularly tricky, with the car feeling twitchy and unstable under heavy braking. "It's not great at the moment, that's for sure.", he concedes.

In the paddock, Honda is already perceived as slightly behind the competition, coinciding with the somewhat subdued statements made by Koji Watanabe, the president of Honda HRC, at the beginning of the year. If the engine deficit is confirmed, Aston Martin will not only have to optimize its chassis, but also close a gap in mechanical performance.

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"The livery is nice. And the weather is good."

Faced with this situation, Stroll adopts a cold, almost resigned posture. "That's how it is. We focus on what we can improve." Looking for positive elements, he makes a sarcastic remark: "The livery is nice. And the weather is good." A response that speaks volumes about the current state of mind. However, the Canadian refuses to abandon the project. He points out that the team has, in his opinion, "All the tools needed to win races and championships"But he acknowledges that this potential has not yet translated into immediate performance.

Three weeks before the start of the season, Aston Martin is focusing on short and medium-term developments, both on the chassis and the power unit. "We are also thinking long-term, making improvements to both the engine and the car.", explains the wearer of number 18.

However, this speech contrasts sharply with the ambitions expressed in recent months. Far from a conquering tone, the Canadian driver admits: "We want to fight for victories, but that doesn't seem to be the case at the moment." However, he leaves a door open: "Does this mean we won't be able to win in the future? No. I don't have a crystal ball."

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Meanwhile, the verdict will come in Melbourne. And if the figures mentioned in Bahrain are confirmed, Aston Martin could start the season in a much more precarious position than expected, despite promises of a new era.