F1 | Aston Martin, Szafnauer: “We want to establish ourselves as a top team, Vettel-Stroll is the right line up”

Among the innovations that will characterize the new season is Aston Martin's return to Formula One as a manufacturer, with the historic British brand taking Racing Point's place on the grid. There is a lot of anticipation and confidence on the part of the (newly formed) English team, as underlined by CEO and team principal Otmar Szafnauer. The latter in fact spoke about future objectives and the new line-up which will be made up of Lance Stroll and the new entry Sebastian Vettel. The German, who ended his experience at Ferrari after six championships, arrived at Gaydon's court in place of Sergio Perez.

"We've had almost a year of preparation to reach this point and have been thrilled to see the positive reaction since revealing our new identity as Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team – said Szafnauer in a Q&A with Aston Martin media – Representing such an iconic brand is a huge privilege for every member of the team. We have been competing in Formula 1 for 30 years (under various names), winning races and taking podiums often against all odds. We are confident that we can do the Aston Martin name proud right from the start".

After changing its look, the English team aims to improve its palmares: “We believe we have all the ingredients to compete for even more podiums and hopefully even victories. By the end of 2022 we will also have a fantastic new factory at Silverstone, which will give the team the space and infrastructure to realize our ambitions. It's the start of a new journey and I can sense an extra energy in the team, with the determination to push performance like never before. Combined with some of the most creative minds in the industry, a true runner mentality, and the can-do spirit that has served us so well over the years, we have every reason to be excited about the future".

Aston Martin aspires to become one of the very first single-seaters of the lot: “Where once the challenge was to establish ourselves as the most efficient team on the grid, there is now an exciting opportunity to establish ourselves as a top team, whilst maintaining that efficiency, in order to add an exciting chapter to Aston Martin's legacy".

Szafnauer then, speaking about Sebastian Vettel, added: “Sebastian is a four-time world champion who with his experience helps teams become successful and competitive for the championship. That's why it's such an important purchase for us. He brings a winning mentality and we will certainly learn a lot from him on this journey. We also think that Sebastian will bring out the best in Lance, with Lance pushing Sebastian hard. We are delighted with our lineup for 2021. It is the ideal mix of experience, winning know-how and raw talent".