MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – MAY 22: Lance Stroll of Canada driving the (18) Aston Martin AMR21 Mercedes … [+]
Formula 1 via Getty Images
Aston Martin’s 2021 Formula 1 season got off to a bumpy start. Changes to the aerodynamic regulations put the team car at a slight disadvantage, but in a sport where every hundredth of a second is crucial, Team Green was behind. At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix they then fought for second place thanks to a great strategy, superlatives from Sebastian Vettel and a little luck from a chaotic race.
It’s been quite a roller coaster ride this season so far. And to get a better idea of how the team has prepared for 2021, I sat down on a video call with Aston Martin Formula 1 Sports Director Andy Stevenson for a chat.
Andy Stevenson on the pit wall at the 2021 Baku Grand Prix
Aston Martin Cognizant Formula 1 team
Bryan Campbell: The past season undoubtedly presented great challenges in Formula 1. It also shook things up well into 2021. Can you comment on the team’s approach this season?
Andy Stevenson: Formula 1 decided to transfer the regulations from 2020 to 2021, both because we didn’t have a full season and to keep costs down. At that time there was great uncertainty. Through a lot of hard work and collaboration with everyone in the sport, we managed to put together a pretty good season in the end.
For 2021 it was decided to leave the regulations unchanged, but to allow the teams some developments. That way, the teams could overcome some of the problems they suffered from in 2020 because ideally we want the grid to be as competitive as possible for good races.
Campbell: Your team has changed names and hands a number of times over the years, but historically it has always stood above its weight. Where do you think Aston Martin will end up in the pecking order in 2021?
Stevenson: We know Mercedes are extremely strong, followed closely by Red Bull and then there are a number of teams that are incredibly close in terms of performance. When you compete against names like Renault, Ferrari, McLaren, it won’t be easy.
With us now as the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team, significant investments have been made since Lawrence [Stroll] first acquired the team. We use this to our advantage. We had a lot of work planned already, but that means we can take advantage of all of the new areas that we were working on a year earlier than the new car is being built. It’s an interesting transition period.
Aston Martin’s Canadian driver Lance Stroll leaves the pits on day two of Formula 1 Formula … [+]
AFP via Getty Images
Campbell: What makes Aston Martin different from the team’s final iteration, Racing Point?
Stevenson: Obviously the name we now run is a very famous name that is steeped in history, but it involves a considerable amount of investment. And it’s a name that we want to get right. We now represent an iconic brand and it is our responsibility to make sure we live up to it. With this investment, we’ve improved our tools, hired more technical staff, which allows us to compete better on the track and provide better upgrades to the car faster.
Campbell: Can you explain to Formula 1 uninitiated the unique culture of the sport, in which teams compete for the “best of the rest”?
Stevenson: We never go to a race weekend because we don’t want to win. The goal is always to win, but the competition is always tough. In Formula 1 history, there has always been a team that has held dominance for several years and that can be due to several factors. But mostly it’s about funding. The stronger teams tend to be the better funded.
For many years, McLaren was the team to beat, then Williams, then Ferrari, then Red Bull. Right now, it’s Mercedes who, by investing in their overall package, both in the design of the car and in the drivers, is Mercedes. is on record course. Drivers like Lewis Hamilton are incredibly hard to beat, no matter what car they’re in.
Our goal is to be realistic and look at the competition in front of us and do the best possible job to make sure we beat the competitors in our area. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t compete every weekend with the ultimate goal of winning the Grand Prix.
It’s quite difficult to explain to someone on the outside why we show up every weekend when we know we can’t win, but we have to choose our battles. We want to establish Aston Martin Cognizant in the top 3 so that we can win anytime. Our long-term plan is to win, and our 3-5 year plan is to be the best in the world.
BAKU, Azerbaijan – June 06: Second place Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Aston Martin F1 Team … [+]
Getty Images
Campbell: In addition to the name Aston Martin, the team has also made a big name for itself with Sebastian Vettel. Can you say something about how that happened?
Stevenson: As the team entered the new era and headed for a World Cup, we had to look at the aspects that needed to be strengthened. One of them was quite simply that we didn’t have a driver who had won a championship. Experience has shown that during the Jordan Grand Prix days it was phenomenal to see the expertise, knowledge and experience that Damon Hill brought to the team. It didn’t matter how many hours we put into each day or how many days we put into each week, we wouldn’t make up for the experience Damon brought to the table.
That’s the mindset we used for 2021 and Sebastian fit in with the shape. We managed to convince Sebastian that this is the right place for him to continue his career. He had a very tough year in 2020, but so did Ferrari overall. They didn’t have a competitive car and it’s no secret that they struggled with their engine.
We look forward to seeing how he can advance the team internally by leading us into areas where we are weaker than we should be. We are always ready to learn.
BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – MARCH 12: Sebastian Vettel from Germany and Aston Martin goes between cars on cars … [+]
Formula 1 via Getty Images
Campbell: Given that 2021 is a unique bridging season, at what point do you start redirecting resources to 2022?
Stevenson: This is difficult. We’ll keep racing and see where we can compete. If we are in a very close battle and our goal for the season is still achievable, we will continue to develop the car for as long as possible. Together with all the other teams, we are already researching cars for the 2022. But as the sporting director, I am fully focused on 2021.
We have beaten over our weight historically, but by the end of the year we were utterly exhausted. The plan is to keep hitting above our weight, but now we have a lot more strength behind us.
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