Aston Martin AMR21 launch - Watch LIVE

Aston Martin

Aston Martin AMR21 launch - Watch LIVE

The iconic British automotive name returns to Formula 1

Sam Hall

Wednesday 3 March 2021 15:38

Aston Martin becomes the seventh team to officially launch its Formula 1 machinery for the 2021 season.

The team formerly known as Racing Point will lift the covers off the AMR21 in a ceremony beginning at 15:00 GMT on Wednesday.

Following the launch, only Ferrari, Haas and Williams remain on the reveal schedule, with the latter pair holding ceremonies later this week - although Haas is only a livery reveal and not the car itself - with Ferrari waiting until March 10.

WHAT HAS CHANGED?

Aston Martin is one of the teams to have undergone the most change from last year to this. Sebastian Vettel has replaced Red Bull driver Sergio Perez at the team with Lance Stroll remaining in position on the other side of the garage.

But the largest change is the name above the door. Last year the outfit competed as Racing Point, but over the winter the team underwent a rebranding exercise to become Aston Martin.

Bringing this iconic brand name back into F1 for the first time since 1960, and having a four-time world champion in one of its cars, is an indication if ever there was any doubt, of how serious owner Lawrence Stroll is of taking the team to the top.

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THE STORY OF 2020

As Racing Point, the team enjoyed a strong campaign and was embroiled in a season-long battle with McLaren and Renault - now Alpine - over third in the constructors' championship.

Along the way, both Perez and Stroll stood on the podium, with the standout result at the Sakhir Grand Prix when the former scored the first F1 victory of his career.

It was also the first success for the Silverstone-based team since 2003 when Giancarlo Fisichella won the Brazilian GP for Jordan.

The Turkish GP was also a cause for celebration with Stroll collecting the first pole position of his career.

Racing Point eventually finished fourth in the constructors' standings, losing out to McLaren.