Aston Martin needs "a world championship driver" to achieve title goals - Zak Brown

Sebastian Vettel on the Hungarian GP podium — Photo: © LAT Images

McLaren

Aston Martin needs "a world championship driver" to achieve title goals - Brown

Vettel will turn 38 in the earliest year of Lawrence Stroll's predictions for a title bid

Sam Hall

Friday 6 August 2021 16:00

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown believes rivals Aston Martin need "a world championship driver" to achieve championship success in Lawrence Stroll's projected timeframe of four to six years.

Aston Martin owner Stroll made a statement of intent with the signing of four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel over the winter as a replacement for Sergio Perez.

The new regulations introduced in 2022 coupled with a significant upscaling of the team's facilities led Stroll to reveal his ambitious target to win the world title within four to six years.

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Vettel will turn 38 during the earliest indicated season in 2025 and far from being disrespectful of the German's previous successes, Brown commented: “To win a world championship, you’re going to need a world championship driver in four to six years."

He added: “I don’t know everything that they’ve got going on so it would be hard for me to comment on whether they can achieve it. He certainly seems to be very committed to his commentary about wanting wind tunnels and what he is spending."

Aston Martin success won't come overnight

Despite the radical changes within the Silverstone-based team in the past year, Stroll conceded he is fully aware success won't be achieved overnight.

With a new wind tunnel and considerable investment into both the facilities and workforce, however, the Canadian is building the foundations for a bright future.

He said: "As far as the plans for the future going forward, like my track record, pretty much like every other business I own, is to win.

"In this case, winning in Formula 1 means obviously world championships, and ultimately that's what we are striving for, what I am striving for.

"Of course, we all know that success in Formula 1 - or any other business for that matter - doesn't come overnight. It takes years to put the right people, the right tools, the right processes in place.

"But we are building and investing in our team, with the ambition of moving up the grid year by year, and our ultimate ambition is to win world championships."