“NOW WE HAVE THE POWER TO PUNCH HARDER. IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING”
Of all the Formula 1 launches that took place in the build-up to the 2021 season, arguably none was as hotly anticipated as Aston Martin’s event last Wednesday. After more than 12 months of planning since its return was announced, and 61 years since one of its cars last entered a world championship grand prix, Aston Martin’s F1 rebirth truly commenced with the unveiling of the AMR21.
Even through a star-studded event that played heavily on the brand’s James Bond affiliation and also wheeled out NFLsuperstar Tom Brady, nothing could overshadow the significance at the core of the launch. Aston Martin is back in F1, and it means business.
Ever since Lawrence Stroll saved the Force India operation from collapse in the summer of 2018, rebranding it as Racing Point, the Silverstone-based squad has been bold, even brash, with its ambitions. It took time to get the puzzle pieces in place. First was the ousting of Esteban Ocon, who made room for Stroll’s son, Lance, to take over the seat. Then came a hiring spree, plugging the gaps that began to emerge towards the end of the Force India era. Plans were formed to build a new factory at Silverstone, and push for closer technical ties with engine supplier Mercedes (something Stroll had wanted for Williams when it fielded his son).
Force India had always been regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound teams, but that was precisely the problem: pounds. There weren’t enough of them. No matter how good the personnel were, how efficient they may have been, the resources simply weren’t plentiful enough to allow the team to take on F1’s big guns.
