TURNING THE CORNER

The Aston Martin Formula 1 team endured a difficult start to the 2021 season as it struggled to maintain the sort of form that it showed under its previous Racing Point identity. However, more recently some charging performances from Sebastian Vettel on days when opportunities opened up have indicated that there is some momentum behind Lawrence Stroll’s ambitious plan to one day challenge for the World Championship.

Those races also demonstrated that the decision to hire Vettel, a man who knows how to win titles but was struggling for form in his latter days at Ferrari, was a wise one. Any questions about the 34-year-old German’s motivation have been answered, and it’s evident that he is also helping the team to raise its game.

As previously recounted in Vantage, the team was handicapped more than its immediate rivals by changes to the regulations over the winter. A package of downforce cuts, focused mainly on the floor area, impacted teams traditionally running low-rake aerodynamic packages more than those with a jacked-up rear. The teams hit hardest, Mercedes andAston