Why there was no case to answer in Aston’s latest F1 copycat saga

By:

GP Racing

Jul 3, 2022, 8:16 AM

The appearance of a revised Aston Martin in Spain caused controversy but PAT SYMONDS explains why the FIA investigation found the Silverstone team had no case to answer

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The Spanish Grand Prix is traditionally a race where the first major updates of the season are seen and this year, although no longer the first European race, every team except Haas brought some development to their cars. What caught most people’s attention, though, were the changes made to the Aston Martin – which many felt bore more than a passing resemblance to the Red Bull as raced from the beginning of the season.

It’s perhaps unfortunate the Silverstone-based team drew such focus having already been subject to intense scrutiny in 2020, after producing what many dubbed ‘The Pink Mercedes’, a clever replica of the successful 2019 works Mercedes car. But this time was very different in many ways.