Its feat has partially been driven by the additional CFD and wind tunnel time afforded by its relatively poor performance last season.
However, it also has been helped by a wholesale design shift it undertook at last year's Spanish Grand Prix as it moved to the downwash sidepod concept originally favoured by Red Bull, AlphaTauri and Alpine.
Having committed so early to that route also gave it a headstart on some of its rivals, allowing it to reorganise the physical components, such as the SIS (Side Impact Structures), radiators and other power unit ancillaries, that might otherwise compromise the aerodynamic gains available from the downwash-style concept.
Having initially taken significant influence from Red Bull, it became clear that Aston Martin was also keeping a keen eye on Alpine too, as when the AMR23 emerged the team had followed the water slide-style idea that its rival pushed hard with in 2022.
Source: Autosport