Aston Martin needs to step up its performance next year, according to lead driver Fernando Alonso.

The two-time world champion from Spain, who celebrated several podium finishes last year in the team's green car, has seen Aston Martin's progress stall recently.

This comes despite Red Bull's renowned technical mastermind, Adrian Newey, being successfully recruited by Aston Martin's owner Lawrence Stroll. Newey will officially join the Silverstone-based team in early 2025, with his first Aston Martin car set to debut in 2026 under the new regulations.

"I think 2026 is in our heads for everyone at Aston," Alonso, 43, told DAZN. "The biggest hope is the arrival of Adrian Newey, Enrico Cardile and a few other names."

"This is going to be great and the future looks bright, but what we are doing now is not good enough. We have to change the pace in 2025," he emphasized.

"I'm currently putting all my effort in to overcome the lack of pace we have," Alonso said. "A lot of work was done between Baku and Singapore. After practice, we left the computers at two in the morning."

"We have increased the workload to find answers more than ever before," he added.

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack confirmed in Singapore that key updates will be implemented for the 2024 package at the upcoming race in Austin.

"Unfortunately, updates haven't worked as they should," he admitted. "And the others are improving their cars more than we are. It's pretty simple."

Alonso wrapped up by saying: "We are putting all our effort into it, but we are realising that miracles cannot be worked here on the track and we need the help of the factory in terms of developing the car." body check tags ::