Why Aston Martin's "limitless" F1 ambitions aren't misplaced
Racing Point has become Aston Martin for 2021, but this is more than just a rebrand. Lawrence Stroll and his team have set some bold targets – and have the tools to deliver
Of all the Formula 1 launches that took place in the build-up to the 2021 season, arguably none was as hotly anticipated as Aston Martin’s event last Wednesday. After more than 12 months of planning since its return was announced, and 61 years since one of its cars last entered a world championship grand prix, Aston Martin’s F1 rebirth truly commenced with the unveiling of the AMR21.
Even through a star-studded event that played heavily on the brand’s James Bond affiliation and also wheeled out NFL superstar Tom Brady, nothing could overshadow the significance at the core of the launch. Aston Martin is back in F1, and it means business.
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Luke Smith is Autosport’s Formula 1 reporter. Luke has been working in F1 as a journalist since 2013, initially alongside a History degree at University College London. Luke served as the lead F1 writer at American broadcaster NBC Sports from 2013-17 before spending two years as the F1 Editor for Crash.net. Luke joined Autosport for the 2020 season.
Luke is also a contributor to The New York Times for its F1 special reports, and has previously worked with Al Jazeera and CNBC, as well as hosting FIA press conferences. Outside of F1, Luke is a fan of sports and music, with an ever-growing vinyl collection, and has being bitten by the running bug in recent years. He also runs a surprisingly popular blog reviewing the often-terrible media centre coffee from his F1 travels.
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