Aston Martin ‘collateral damage’ in F1 Aero cuts against Mercedes

The FIA ​​sought to reduce vehicle downforce for 2021 to slow down speed for safety reasons, focusing on rules for the design of vehicle floors.

The downforce cuts appear to have hit teams that drive low-incline cars harder than those running a high-incline concept, leaving Mercedes and Aston Martin on their rearfoot in particular.

Aston Martin’s team boss, Otmar Szafnauer, said last Friday that he wanted to speak to the FIA ​​about the reasons for the changes and the inclusion of the commercial rights holder in the regulatory process.

Szafnauer also suggested speaking to the FIA ​​about aerodynamic improvements for this season to improve the equity between the low and high rake teams.

Mercedes F1 team principal Wolff said Aston Martin had the right to ask why the changes were made for safety reasons, as Pirelli made more robust tire compounds for 2021 to cope with the higher speeds.

However, he felt that the team had also fallen victim to the same cuts that Mercedes should also potentially injure to diminish its advantage over the field.

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, George Russell, Williams FW43B and Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo Racing C41

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

“I understand the subject, since the rules came into force last year, you can always question what the motivation was,” said Wolff when he was asked by Autosport for Szafnauer’s comments.

“I think there is always the right to review, look at and discuss things with the FIA ​​to find out what actually happened and how things happened.

“So I respect Aston Martin’s investigation into the whole thing. Maybe things were directed at us and it is collateral damage. So yes. That’s OK.”

However, on the Sunday evening after the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, Aston Martin boss Szafnauer said he was now “fairly satisfied that all the right steps were followed”.

“We are still in discussion,” said Szafnauer. “We’re just trying to figure out what all of the steps were to make sure it was done right and just. So that is the reason for the discussion.

“We just have to have a good understanding of the whole process and be happy that the process is really fair.”