After a start to the season where Aston Martin couldn't see the checkered flag in either of the two races, Fernando Alonso arrived in Japan with a goal that seems modest but for the team has become a huge challenge.
The driver was clear after testing the updates they brought to Suzuka: the main objective this weekend isn't to fight for points but to cross the line after 53 laps, something they still haven't achieved so far this year.
The British team put all their chips on Honda's homecoming, the manufacturer that supplies their power units and which is also under scrutiny after a forgettable start. They brought aerodynamic developments and worked alongside the Japanese to reduce the vibrations that have been affecting the AMR26 since preseason testing, But when Alonso got in the car for second practice on Friday, the feeling was the same as always: "It's still basically the same as before, despite some updates we brought," the Spaniard said after completing 24 laps and finishing 19th more than three and a half seconds off the fastest time.
What's most concerning isn't just the lack of pace but that the upgrades weren't felt. Alonso was honest when asked about the developments: in the laps he did, he didn't feel a big difference, and there's the problem, because Aston Martin needs to make a urgent leap in quality if they don't want to be left behind the rest of the grid. For now their fight is with Cadillac to see who ends up last, and in that duel the Americans have the advantage because at least they managed to finish both races.
The two time world champion didn't take part in Friday morning practice because he was replaced by Jak Crawford, the team giving him time to be with his family after the birth of his first child, But when he got back in the car in the afternoon, reality greeted him with the same problems as always, the vibrations are still there, the car doesn't have enough downforce and the gap to the teams ahead is abysmal.
Aston Martin built a dream project with the arrival of Adrian Newey, Enrico Cardile and Honda as official engine supplier, but so far none of that has translated into results, Alonso knows the road is long but also that in Formula 1 timelines shorten when the numbers don't add up. That's why his tone shifted from the euphoria of the team's construction to a much more grounded reality: finishing the race.
At Suzuka, Honda's home, the pressure is maximum. Alonso acknowledged it when he said they need to be there to support the manufacturer in a difficult moment. But he also made it clear that good intentions aren't enough. The team needs concrete solutions and fast, because if they can't even finish a race, the rest of the plans amount to nothing. For now, that's the goal: to complete the 53 laps on Sunday. After that, we'll see.