Aston Martin F1 Team

1. Aston Martin F1 Team in brief

Aston Martin F1 Team is a British team, involved in Formula 1 between 1959 and 1960, and back on the grid since 2021. The British team returned to the discipline under the leadership of Lawrence Stroll, already owner under the name of Racing Point , who has since acquired shares in the winged brand until becoming its executive director.

Since 2021, Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll have been the official drivers, while Mike Krack arrived in 2022 as team principal. The team has secured the services of Fernando Alonso from 2023 alongside the Canadian. In a technical development, Adrian Newey has been poached by Lawrence Stroll for a 2025 arrival at the team.

Alonso and Stroll during the Italian Grand Prix in 2024 © FLORENT GOODEN / DPPI Media

2. The history of Aston Martin F1 Team

Although recently arrived in Formula 1 under the control and management of Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin enjoyed two other seasons in the premier category of motorsport. She entered for the first time in 1959, alongside her participation in endurance events and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Aston Martin DBR4, the team's first single-seater in F1 / © DPPI

However, it is because of its commitment to Sarthe that the production of their first single-seater, the DBR4, is delayed and does not allow Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby, the two drivers of the team, to be able to play first. roles. During the season, the British would only compete in four Grands Prix, narrowly failing to score their first points in the discipline.

The following year, in 1960, Aston Martin secured the services of a French driver, Maurice Trintignant, already a winner in F1 with the Italian team Ferrari. But the engineers' choice to keep the engine, which is also very heavy, at the front of the car, penalizes Aston Martin. It quickly found itself overtaken by the rear-engined teams, failing once again in its quest to score points. Faced with this bitter failure, Aston Martin left Formula 1 to concentrate on sports cars.

Lawrence Stroll surrounded by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, and Stefano Domenicali, F1 boss at Liberty Media © Antonin Vincent / DPPI

While Lawrence Stroll's takeover of Force India is effective in 2019, the Canadian multi-billionaire is investing in the British automobile brand, Aston Martin, by buying back 16,7% of the shares, for a total amount of 182 million pounds sterling. He decides to rename his team from the 2021 season, Aston Martin.

Upon his arrival, Stroll secured the services of Sebastian Vettel, left free by Ferrari. The Canadian obviously associates him with his son, Lance Stroll, while Sergio Perez, present in the team for many years, is asked to find a way out.

The change of name does not really affect the results of the team, which remains relegated to the middle of the pack. A clear improvement nevertheless appeared during the Hungarian Grand Prix when Sebastian Vettel took advantage of a pile-up at the start of the race to take Esteban Ocon's wheel and cross the finish line in second position. Aston Martin's best result at this stage obviously, but the German will ultimately be downgraded for not having left enough fuel in his car. Before that, he managed to finish 2nd in Baku.

Vettel managed to get Aston Martin onto the podium at the 2021 Azerbaijan GP / © Antonin Vincent / DPPI

Lance Stroll will sign his best performance with the team during the Qatar Grand Prix with a sixth place, but Aston Martin ends the championship in seventh position, far from its initial objectives.

In the off-season, the British team saw its director, Otmar Szafnauer, in office since 2009, leave for Alpine. Mike Krack was chosen to replace him, who had already experienced Formula 1 with BMW. However, it is an even more disappointing season for the team which is emerging, regularly relegated to the back of the grid.

During the summer break, Sebastian Vettel announced his retirement, after fifteen years at the highest level. To everyone's surprise, Fernando Alonso was brought in to replace him, who signed a two-year contract with Aston Martin. From the start of his adventure, the Spaniard signed five podiums in his first six races, and collected eight in total, completely eclipsing his teammate Lance Stroll in what was a great season for the Silverstone team (5th).

The announcement of its multi-season extension in the spring of 2024 allowed Aston Martin to maintain its good momentum and aim ever higher in view of the technical upheaval of 2026. Aston Martin also signed an exclusive contract for the use of the Honda engine from 2026, enough to reach a new level. Not content with these guarantees, Lawrence Stroll poaches Adrian Newey from Red Bull to accompany them from 2025.

Fernando Alonso has been supporting Lance Stroll at Aston Martin since the 2023 season / © Xavi Bonilla / DPPI

3. The official drivers of Aston Martin F1 Team

 In 2025, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are the two regular drivers at Aston Martin. Felipe Drugovich fills the role of reserve driver for the British team.

Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso in 2024 © ANTONIN VINCENT / DPPI

4. Autohebdo's opinion on Aston Martin F1 Team

Despite its return to the discipline with great fanfare in 2021, Aston Martin remains in the eyes of the general public, a mid-table team, or even worse this year. The British team has nevertheless stood out for its ability to develop single-seaters with disturbing similarities with the top teams on the grid, as evidenced by the evolution of the AMR22 before the Spanish Grand Prix in 2022, which looked very similar to the Red Bull in terms of the sidepods.

Aston Martin has nevertheless scored a big coup by attracting Fernando Alonso to its nets for 2023, and the future seems promised to better results, especially with the arrival of its new wind tunnel and Honda from 2026. Stroll repeats over and over that he wants to become world champion by 2025… With the arrival of Adrian Newey in the equation, anything seems possible. Watch this space.

5. Learn more about Aston Martin F1 Team

Aston Martin, the wind of discord

A marriage of interests between Alonso and Aston Martin

OFFICIAL: Sebastian Vettel to retire at end of season

With Alonso joining Aston Martin, what does the 2023 grid look like?

Aston Martin F1 Campus Tour: Welcome to the Future

The reasons behind Adrian Newey's marriage with Aston Martin

F1 2024 Retro – The Confirmation: Lance Stroll

F1 2024 Retro – The Impatient: Fernando Alonso

Who is Andy Cowell, CEO and new Team Principal of Aston Martin?