Otmar Szafnauer has opened up on Racing Point becoming Aston Martin works team from 2021 F1 season onward after the takeover from Lawrence Stroll and consortium.
After Stroll and his associates bought Racing Point from Dr. Vijay Mallya’s Force India, the Canadian businessman had his eyes set on buying shares of British car maker Aston Martin. After months of discussions, the deal was done in January 2020.
As things stand, Stroll has become the new co-owner of Aston Martin. The immediate change on F1 side will come into effect from 2021 when the current ‘Racing Point’ team becomes ‘Aston Martin F1 Team’. It will also end its deal with Red Bull after 2020.
While it is not clear about the engine deal Aston Martin will have going forward, but Mercedes seems the most logical choice. Even though it will called as a works F1 team, it seems the team will not be a manufacturer and be more like McLaren.
Racing Point team principal Szafnauer is looking forward to good times for the Silverstone-based F1 team, which already was into expansion mode with new factory space being built up. The American opened up on various topics, which goes:
Racing Point becoming Aston Martin from 2021 –
Szafnauer: “It’s significant news for Aston Martin and for F1 itself. As one of the most iconic sports car brands in the world, Aston Martin needed a presence on the F1 grid and this solution delivers a fully-fledged works Aston Martin F1 Team from 2021 onwards. It’s news that will excite fans around the world and will shine a spotlight on a brand that is widely regarded as Britain’s finest luxury sports car manufacturer.”
Details on the programme plus mood at HQ –
Szafnauer: “Creating a works F1 team achieves a number of objectives for Aston Martin. It delivers a high-profile marketing platform for the road car division, which will enhance commercial appeal in all areas of the business. There is also the obvious technical collaboration between the F1 programme and the road cars, with F1 technology filtering through to the products Aston Martin launches in the years ahead.
“This is particularly relevant to the mid-engine philosophy that is just around the corner. The competitive environment of racing is a rich avenue for innovation and the opportunity for technology cross-over is incredibly exciting. It’s certainly provides a real injection of energy for the 465 loyal and hard-working staff in Silverstone.
“The team has been in business, under various names, for 30 years and is more than ready to become a manufacturer team. Lawrence spoke to the staff last week and set out the clear objective to establish Aston Martin as one of the top teams in the sport. Everyone is proud to represent a legendary car manufacturer returning to the pinnacle of motorsport.”
2020 F1 season –
Szafnauer: “There’s no immediate impact on our current campaign and we will continue to compete as Racing Point until the rebrand takes place at the start of the 2021 season. From then we will be known simply as ‘Aston Martin F1 Team’ – so the Racing Point name will disappear.
“It’s exciting to transition into a manufacturer team and we’ve got the best part of a year to make all those changes – much of which will be happening behind-the-scenes. It’s important we don’t take our eyes off the main task for 2020, which is to be competitive on the racetrack with the RP20.”
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Here’s Racing Point on feedback from their drivers
Here’s what Racing Point regarding Lawrence Stroll and Vijay Mallya
Here’s Lance Stroll on getting his qualifying better
Here’s Lance Stroll laying difference between Williams and Racing Point
Here’s what Racing Point said regarding having Nico Hulkenberg as sim driver
