Mid-season review: Aston Martin, the disappointment
What to remember from the first part of the season for the Aston Martin team? Between technical problems and a bit of bad luck, the team has not been spared. The results are disappointing.
The period when Racing Point was surprising the entire paddock by achieving very good results seems far away. It was only last year. The difference is astonishing. For 2021, the team entered a new era. Lawrence Stroll bought the British manufacturer, Aston Martin, last year. Therefore, with a new name, the team is competing in the Championship. Additionally, by bringing Sebastian Vettel, four-time world champion, the English team displayed high ambitions. But the German did not expect to be driving a car below his ambitions.
A disappointing single-seater
After leaving Ferrari after a catastrophic season (13th in the Championship), Vettel wanted to rediscover pleasure with a new steering wheel. The car has changed a lot compared to last year. The gap in level seems gigantic. For comparison, Aston Martin is in seventh place in the constructor standings with 48 points, whereas it finished fourth with 195 points last year. That says a lot. So, yes, the season is still long, but it’s hard to see the team climbing up the rankings given the performances of other cars. The car is slower than expected. This is mainly due to a change in the floor.« I am honest, I expected something else. Everyone thought that 2021 would be a copy/paste of 2020, but this change in the floor had a big impact », he explained last May.
However, Vettel has been putting in strong qualifying performances by reaching Q2 several times, even Q3. The performance gap becomes noticeable during the race. In Hungary, the German driver never managed to catch up with Esteban Ocon, so the level between the two cars remains very close. Aston Martin has also not been spared technical issues. At Imola, both drivers almost didn’t start the race due to overheating of the rear brakes during the formation lap. The issue appeared on both cars. Only Lance Stroll was able to finish the race.
Bad luck at the appointment.
As if the problems with the car were not enough. Bad luck continues from team to team for Vettel. When the German driver has a great race, he is not necessarily rewarded. He was disqualified in Hungary after finishing second with a magnificent performance. The reason? The FIA was unable to take a liter of fuel at the end of the race as required by the technical regulations. Aston Martin appealed this decision providing relevant evidence, but the sports commissioners rejected the team’s request. Not to mention the numerous retirements of both drivers due to technical issues and the accident caused by Stroll hitting Leclerc’s Ferrari in Hungary. What a mess in that first corner.
Carnage au 1er virage ! 😱#HungarianGP 🇭🇺
▶️ https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/d4mp3U9NX8
— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) August 1, 2021
The teammates’ match
Aston Martin can however count on the motivation of its drivers. They give their all to push the car to its limits. Sebastian Vettel narrowly dominates qualifying (6-5). The German has reached Q3 five times during the first eleven weekends. Stroll, on the other hand, won the race match (6-4). Unlike him, Vettel achieved a great second place at the Baku circuit. No podium for the Canadian. In terms of retirements, Vettel did not finish the race three times this season, compared to two for Stroll. The drivers have not been spared technical issues.
It’s going to be an intense second half of the season for the English team. Aston Martin will have to manage technical issues and give it their all to secure valuable points. Compared to last year, they are not fighting for a podium so there is less pressure. However, the constructor standings remain important. AlphaTauri is only twenty points ahead of them. It’s up to the drivers to forget about bad luck and bounce back after the summer break. Vettel’s experience could make the difference.
