The green machines have come together on the track twice in two races; a nightmare scenario for every team. Is there a negative situation for the Silverstone squad?
What happened?
There appears to be a growing number of cases where the two Aston Martin cars get into war on the track, compromise one another, or damage the car. At the Italian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel ran through the Lesmo curves close behind his team-mate Lance Stroll, disturbed his momentum and let two other cars overtake him. The duo came together again at the Russian Grand Prix, this time Stroll fared worse and damaged his front wing. The air was cleared, however, and Vettel said, “I think it was a misunderstanding.”
While these are likely to be simple glitches, it would lead to some very awkward conversations with management and other stakeholders. Here’s how things are likely to play out.
The case for Stroll
Lance Stroll has the team around him well and truly at the moment. After joining the Silverstone roster in 2019, he has dedicated himself to the project and helped develop the car in an attempt to push his way to the top of the midfield. His status on the team is undisputed and he appears to be a long-term driver in Aston Martin. He wants and probably will be the leader of the team, with a guaranteed longevity in his position. As the son of the headline owner, he undoubtedly has special privileges. In these cases, however, the bike-to-bike action needs to be assessed impartially to ensure that there is no excessive risk taken between teammates.
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The case for Vettel
Sebastian Vettel is a man on the journey of rebirth. His tenure at Ferrari ended at a notable low, which resulted in a hot topic this season as to whether he would recover. After a slow start to the season, he made progress and secured two second places (one of which was canceled due to fuel problems after the race). Vettel will likely help the team move forward over the next few years, which will be crucial for the upcoming regulations. Racing in two masterful teams would have given him the experience to advance and maximize the Aston Martin package. However, the German realizes that his time in Formula 1 is limited and could soon be over. Aston Martin could really be his last project in the sport. The last thing it takes is his limited time to be hindered by his own teammate, let alone his competition.
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What now?
There’s a reason it’s the golden rule of “not crashing into your teammate”. Jeopardizing the team’s ability to score points for both cars in one fell swoop is particularly hard to bear for a midfield team. Aston Martin will not be able to afford its successes to derail with rivalry between teams, especially at a stage when it is growing exponentially at headquarters and staff to better meet future regulations.
One thing is certain: if both drivers are hostile to each other, the situation will never be resolved. We saw that well enough in the Force India dramas between drivers Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez. Aston Martin lacks an experienced hand necessary to resolve the matter, like Alain Prost and Alpine who would help provide a skilled judge or mentor to negotiate and resolve the matter individually or collaboratively.
It may seem like something insignificant now, a problem that isn’t even fully ignited. But when it comes to drivers and their egos, hopes and passions, anything can go wrong very quickly. Fortunately, it still seems a long way off. The team mainly hoped to avoid similar incidents. However, should the situation change, the team would have to set clear boundaries or a hierarchy as to whether the drivers want it or not. This will help the team advance the cars in their battles on the field rather than arguing among themselves.
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