The Silverstone-based outfit has loved two podium finishes with Sebastian Vettel this 12 months, though the German’s runner-up spot in Hungary last week is subject to appeal after his automotive didn’t have sufficient gasoline left in it for post-race checks.
However regardless of some apparent highlights, Aston Martin is nicely conscious that it didn’t construct on the large momentum it had on the finish of 2020 when it was repeatedly combating for podiums and gained the Sakhir Grand Prix.
The crew has been clear that the change in ground guidelines for this season harm its low-rake automotive idea far more than its rivals operating a high-rake idea, and that left it taking part in catch up for the early section of the season.
Stroll agrees that it was the brand new laws that have been the largest hindrance to its progress, however he thinks good points have been revamped the primary half of the 12 months.
“I believe it has been a difficult season for certain,” he mentioned. “It isn’t what we have been aiming for after the tip of final 12 months with the regulation adjustments.
“We have taken successful in efficiency, and that is made the start of the season somewhat bit tougher.
“However there’s been some positives. I believe we have made steps ahead as a crew, and we have improved the automotive because the starting of the season. There’s nonetheless a variety of racing left, so I am trying ahead to it and we’ll see what occurs.”
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF21
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Group principal Otmar Szafnauer thinks the quantity of progress that it might make with recovering the losses has been hampered by strict homologation limits for 2021.
“The crew have performed a beautiful job and so they’ve labored tirelessly to try to get a few of that downforce loss again,” he mentioned.
“However sadly we’re a bit restricted with what we will do on account of laws. We will not actually elevate the rear experience top.
“So figuring out that, I believe they’ve performed an excellent job. We have clawed again among the relative efficiency that we had, not all of it, however we won’t claw all of it again for 2 causes: one, we’re restricted on how a lot time we will truly spend on this 12 months’s automotive, as a result of it comes on the expense of subsequent 12 months’s automotive, and two, our palms are tied with regards to lifting the rear experience top. We will not do this.”
However regardless of these limits, Szafnauer thinks there may be scope for Aston Martin to get extra out of its automotive over the rest of the 2021 season.
“We will enhance this automotive little bit by little bit, however extra by understanding it versus bringing fairly large upgrades,” he added.
“Then the crew again at base is concentrated on ’22. I believe they’ve performed a beautiful job getting the automotive to the place it’s now. I imply nearly each half that is been licked by the wind has been modified.”