At 41, Fernando Alonso is proving that experience can still spark a spark of youth. With Aston Martin, the Spaniard has delivered a striking performance that boosted both the team’s momentum and investor confidence. In his first race with the squad, Alonso climbed onto the podium, capturing a solid third place that sent a positive jolt through the company’s market value. Since the park’s doors opened this Monday, the stock has risen by around 24 percent, signaling renewed enthusiasm among shareholders.
This result adds another chapter to Alonso’s storied career as one of the sport’s most enduring champions. His podium finish isn’t just a personal milestone; it reinforces Aston Martin’s ongoing rally in the stock market, which has seen its value surge by roughly half over the past five days. Yet the firm’s market capitalization still lags behind its October 2018 initial public offering, when shares traded around £19 and the company was valued at about €5,000 million. The team’s revenue did climb by 26 percent to 1,381 million, but a 527 million loss in 2022 remains a reminder of the industry’s macro headwinds, including disrupted supply chains and global logistics challenges that have affected automakers everywhere.
Aston Martin’s shareholder base features several notable backers, including the country’s sovereign wealth fund and a strong presence from Saudi Arabia, which holds an 18 percent stake. Geely, linked to Li ShuFu, owns 7.6 percent, while Mercedes-Benz maintains a 2 percent share. A prominent Canadian investor, Lawrence Walk, who is connected to the team’s racing lineage, controls a substantial stake and is linked to the driver lineup’s support network.
strong investment
On the desert circuit near Manama, the capital of Bahrain, Aston Martin showcased its most advanced package to date. Alonso, who has claimed three F1 victories in Bahrain across his career—two with Renault in 2005 and 2006 and his first win with Ferrari in 2010—was part of a performance that highlighted the team’s progress. The Spaniard finished seventh last season and moved up to second on the grid this time around, with Red Bull continuing to dominate both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
Analysts highlight the underpinnings of this improvement. The company has invested in its technical leadership, bringing in British aero specialists who have long been associated with top-tier teams. Dan Fallows and Adrian Newey are seen as pivotal figures in shaping the aerodynamic strategy, while Eric Blandin remains a critical voice guiding the engineering direction. These collaborators have helped Aston Martin bridge gaps in performance and reliability, lifting overall execution on track and signaling stronger collaboration between design and race-day operations. The result is a leap in quality that leaves room for further growth as the season unfolds.
The championship schedule remains dense, with 23 races that test the team’s resilience and adaptability. The season’s finale is slated for Abu Dhabi in late November, but there are key events still to come, including the Spain Grand Prix on June 4 and the Mexican Grand Prix on October 29. Even with a lengthy calendar, the team led by Mike Krack of Luxembourg has positioned itself in second place in the Constructors’ World Championship, chasing Red Bull’s dominant run and aiming to capitalise on every opportunity to narrow the gap. Mercedes also posted a historic run of success, but Aston Martin’s current trajectory suggests a continued push toward the front of the grid for the foreseeable future.