2021 reintroduces Aston Martin to the F1 grid. Gone are the days of BWT Racing Point Formula One Team, who have been rebranded to Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team.
A year of promise in 2020
2020 was a changing point for the team. They were no longer back markers and gave us a terrific midfield battle. It seemed like they were the likely team to be ‘best of the rest’ and finish third in the Constructors’ Championship but was pipped to the post by McLaren F1 Team at the final hurdle.
Drivers Sergio Pérez and Lance Stroll secured podium finishes, and The Sakhir Grand Prix saw a double podium for the team. Pérez was victorious for the first time in his F1 career. Not only was the win a great achievement, but his race was also one of his finest. He was caught up in an incident with Charles Leclerc on the first lap which eventually demoted him down to last. That didn’t stop him from giving all he’s got in the race and was rewarded for his efforts. Stroll joined him on the podium with a third-place finish.
Pérez also gained a podium with a second-place finish at the Turkish Grand Prix and Stroll walked away from the Italian Grand Prix with a third-place finish.
Nico Hülkenberg was drafted in for three races due to COVID-19. Pérez contracted the virus and was unable to race at the two races held at Silverstone Circuit. Stroll also contracted the virus later in the season and had to miss the Eifel Grand Prix.
Racing Point was deducted 15 points after a protest from Renault DP World F1 Team was upheld about the legality of their car. Renault and other teams deemed the brake ducts were too similar to those of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Teams previous car and protested.
What’s Changed?
Alongside the rebrand, the car’s livery got a massive overhaul. The team opted to go for a green livery, similar to that of the Aston Martin cars that previously competed in F1.
Not only has the team and car changed but so has the driver line up. Despite being in contract until 2022, Aston Martin decided to drop Pérez in favour of former World Champion Sebastian Vettel, who had been ousted from Scuderia Ferrari. Stroll continues to race for the team.
What To Expect?
Testing wasn’t the best of times of Aston Martin. They rarely got their car out of the bottom half of the timings sheet and sufferd an abundance of issues. That being said, we don’t think that will reflect the season coming up. The team is still running with a Mercedes engine and we expect them to full push for third place again.
Stroll has proven that he deserves his seat in F1 and the additional of a world champion to the side in Vettel could help the young driver improve and also push him to get the best out of each race.
