In the round-up: Aston Martin CEO says new investor Lawrence Stroll is serious about winning with the brand in Formula 1.
Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Lights out in Australia is fast approaching… 👀
But did you know work on W11 actually started all the way back in 2018! 😮
Catch up with James from the very heart of the factory here in Brackley 👇 pic.twitter.com/lLfR9t4xG0
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) January 31, 2020
Trying to imagine how the Jordanaires still at Silverstone must feel about their 30 year journey from Jordan via Midland, Spyker, Force India & Racing Point to Aston Martin F1. Andy’s Green & Stevenson will have more than a few stories to share #F1
— Mark Gallagher (@_markgallagher) January 31, 2020
F1 2019 World Record Budapest 1:13.945 pic.twitter.com/hhxVTmYKWo
— Jarno Opmeer (@jarno_opmeer) January 31, 2020
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
Andy Palmer on Aston Martin's investment deal and future (Autocar)
"If you talk to Mr Stroll, then you’ll quickly learn he isn’t in the paddock to just turn up. He is investing in the team to win, and we wouldn’t want to be involved with a team that didn’t have a chance of at least podiums"
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos to sponsor Mercedes F1 team (The Times)
"As with cycling and sailing, Formula 1 is a sport that successfully blends human and machine performance so we are in a strong position to learn from each other."
Seb sits in new car for first time (Ferrari)
"Just before midday, the German, who is third in the list of Ferrari race winners behind Michael Schumacher and Niki Lauda, stepped into what will be the sixth Ferrari he has raced. It was an opportunity to give his impressions to the mechanics and get a first look at the car."
Opportunities knock for Rossi (Racer)
"I’ve always said if Ferrari or Mercedes called then yes, obviously, you’ve got to do that. But I would never go back to run from eighth to 20th. That doesn’t interest me."
Toyota Racing Series Round 2 Race 2 Highlights (Toyota Racing Series via YouTube)
Toyota Racing Series Round 2 Race 3 Highlights (Toyota Racing Series via YouTube)
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Comment of the day
It’s been an uncertain few months for Aston Martin but yesterday brought good news:
Aston Martin is my childhood poster car, specifically the Vantage line, so this is fantastic news for me. The marque is still alive.
I’m expecting big things from the Valkyrie in the next five seasons in the WEC/Le Mans (and possibly IMSA) and adding a F1 programme to that. Happy days.
@UNeedAFinn2Win
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Mog
1st February 2020, 1:31
It always saddens me when I read teams talking about points and podiums like it is a great thing but knowing that winning is totally out of the question. I know it is the reality of the sport and points = big dollars.
I really hope Stroll is going to acheive something other than mediocrity in F1. It would be a story worth remembering if he does.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
1st February 2020, 1:34
The father or the son? If merc is going to keep having a seat warmer alongside Hamilton, sign Rossi, at least he is a token seat warmer, and he might rebel.
Jeffrey (@jeffreyj)
1st February 2020, 19:10
It’s not very convincing either way imho.
It’s hard to take the father seriously when he puts his clearly inferiorly talented son in the car.
It’s also hard to take the son seriously because he is clearly undeserving of an F1 seat based on his skill and capabilities.
Kris Baxter
5th February 2020, 0:40
really? by your comment you’d think that Lance was obliterated by the “talented” Perez. In fact Stroll got more points, and sure Perez beat him in race results and qualifying, but still, it wasn’t the white wash you make it out to be.
Stroll matched Magnussen and more than doubled Grosjeans points, to me, those two, especially Grosjeans, are a waste of seats in F1.
Oconomo
1st February 2020, 11:56
So, wonder what Lewis is thinking of that sponsorship deal with Ineos, well known for it’s screw the environment politics, sir Ratcliffe gotta line his pockets.
My bet is: As long as he gets paid, not a word!
Adam (@rocketpanda)
1st February 2020, 13:12
I may be in the minority but I’m a bit cold on Aston Martin taking over Force India/Racing Point.
Firstly I’m personally not keen on their cars but mainly it’s another manufacturer – another big-ish car company that can pull the plug when funding or sales don’t look good and disappear. I get nervous of those teams long term futures far more than the smaller organisations that exist mostly as just a racing entity and as a fan seen too many ‘favourite teams’ just up and leave when it suits them.
I suppose I think the ‘privateer’ teams are more F1’s lifeblood than manufacturers that come and go, and seeing FI/RP become yet another car company is a little sad. The only positive is Stroll seems like he wants to stick around a while so maybe so will Aston Martin? In some ways I think their future is a little more precarious than it was before.
Mark (@muzza)
1st February 2020, 14:31
I’m not sure that’s what’s happening here. Essentially Stroll and his consortium has dropped a ton of cash into Aston Martin for an equity stake and then gained the rights to use AML as a title sponsor. It’s not AML buying out Racing Point at all, as far as I can see in what I’ve read?
And AML are tiny in manufacturer terns – and performing poorly recently – hence the need for this deal – it was that or eye-watering levels of interest on a loan drawdown facility from the US.
Mark (@muzza)
1st February 2020, 14:32
Dieter’s article on the deal summed it up pretty well.
budchekov (@budchekov)
1st February 2020, 15:45
Level headed chap Alex R, smart, quick too, great interview…..Darn, that Acura’s almost as pretty as the Dark Red Mazda… @ Great drive by Kamui at the 24.
budchekov (@budchekov)
1st February 2020, 16:17
Oh ! + Ryan Briscoe, Scotty and Renger van der Zande..
UNeedAFinn2Win (@uneedafinn2win)
1st February 2020, 17:06
Thanks for the COTD @keithcollantine, must’ve been a slow day ;)
On to 12 hours of Bathurst coming up very shortly, Mount Panorama never disappoints.
Up until a few weeks ago the chance of international open wheelers (IndyCar) was still there but I guess we’ll just have to wait until the S5000 finalizes their calendar. I’m sure they’ll come to a good date eventually
Fast
2nd February 2020, 0:41
“I’ve always said if Ferrari or Mercedes called then yes, obviously, you’ve got to do that. But I would never go back to run from eighth to 20th. That doesn’t interest me.” — this is why, we will not see an American in the sport, until their ego accepts this reality. as, every WDC in recent memory has.