British sportscar manufacturer Aston Martin returned to Formula One in March of last year.
But that deal with Red Bull Racing was merely as an ‘innovation partner’.
The move saw Aston Martin appear on the Red Bull Racing cars and a collaboration between Red Bull Racing and Aston Martin saw a new road car designed by Adrian Newey dubbed a ‘hyper-car’ designed and built.
150 road going versions of their hypercar the ‘AM-RB 001’ have sold out.
In December of last year we on vitalf1.com commented…
‘In fantasy F1 terms it would be lovely to see Aston Martin enter Formula One as a fully fledged manufacturer or engine supplier, but it seemingly will not be happening in the immediate future at least.’
Well, it may not be a fantasy forever.
Aston Martin president and CEO Andy Palmer has confirmed that entering Formula One as an engine supplier is under considering for 2021.
The reason for the specific date, is because that is the year that there will be a complete overhaul of the current power unit and engine regulations for that season.
The current V6 Turbo-Hybrid engines are set to be replaced, with yet to be agreed, but louder, potentially more powerful and certainly cheaper, power-units.
The problem of course with Formula One is getting across the board agreement.
Both Mercedes and Ferrari are competitive and have the leading engines in the field, so why would they endorse dramatic change?
Whilst Aston Martin, who are participating in the working groups, would like to see cheaper engines to develop and manufacture.
‘I participate, as does the company, in a number of the working group meetings, obviously led by the FIA. We put together a recommendation as an independent manufacturer of what would it need to look like to attract us in. Palmer told Sky Sports.
‘Roughly speaking that is making it standardised as much as possible the bits that don’t matter too much where you don’t have the competitive engine, probably throw away the heat recovery turbochargers because that’s an enormous amount of development.
‘What we see coming back is something quite encouraging because it ticks many of those boxes, at least conceptually.’
He concluded: ‘From our perspective we need things to happen to make it affordable to enter the sport. And I honestly believe it is vital for the sport. We have to put some spice back and having processions like Abu Dhabi is not good for the sport, not good for the viewership.
‘If we can add a catalyst to change, even by participating in those meetings, I think is good for the sport.’
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