Aston Martin's "tricky" balancing act in quest for F1 glory

Aston Martin

Aston Martin's "tricky" balancing act in quest for F1 glory

Team's stated aim is world titles in four to six years

Ian Parkes

Monday 23 August 2021 16:45

Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer believes his organisation faces a "tricky" challenge as it targets F1 success against the backdrop of a rapid expansion plan.

Aside from shedding its old Force India/Racing Point image and taking on a fabled name, Aston Martin is currently in the process of building a new factory and constructing a new wind tunnel, as well as taking on an additional 200 to 300 staff.

In a year when the team is also trying to balance its finances given the implementation of the budget cap and develop next year's all-new F1 car, Szafnauer concedes he faces "a different challenge" given owner Lawrence Stroll's ambition of winning world titles in four to six years' time.

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"You just have to take it day by day and do the best that you can, which also requires management," said Szafnauer, speaking to GPFans Global.

"There's a new factory that we've started building, and that's not a small task. We've got to build the new factory without taking a half step backwards.

"If you look back at other places, whenever they seem to build a new factory, they take their eye off the ball a little bit on the performance of the car.

"You can't afford to go backwards so we've got to build a new factory and a new wind tunnel at the same time as taking two steps forward in performance.

"It is tricky but if you take it one day at a time, keep calm, make rational and good decisions, it can happen."

Szafnauer concedes such plans are both enthralling but also draining.

"For sure, it's quite exciting," added Szafnauer. "It's quite exciting building something from now to four or five years' time when hopefully, we'll be winning world championships. That's the aim and that's the objective.

"That journey is going to be great. There are some people that have joined us because they enjoy that journey and they've been on that journey elsewhere, and they want to do it again. It's that enjoyable.

"But at the same time, yes, it will be hard work. It'll be a lot of hours. It'll be a lot of decision making in areas where you can only do it once because you're building. You don't always build.

"So yes, it will take a lot of energy out of all of us."