Aston Martin director of performance Tom McCullough has revealed that the Silverstone-based team are going to use their big “advantage” over Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes “as much as we can”, following their remarkable start to the 2023 F1 season.
Aston Martin’s start to the season is by far one of the stories of the year so far, with Fernando Alonso having claimed three consecutive podiums for the British side.
After starting the year so well, Aston Martin look set to be in a fight with Ferrari and Mercedes for second in the Constructors’ Championship, a position they currently hold.
Ferrari and Mercedes are certainly playing catch-up at the moment, with Aston Martin reaping the rewards of finishing seventh last season.
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Due to having finished towards the bottom of the table last year, Aston Martin have more wind tunnel time than the frontrunners, meaning they can “analyse” more than the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes.
“It is without a doubt an advantage, we try to use it as much as we can,” McCullough told AS.
“The more time you have, the more sessions you do and the more things you can analyse.
“We are every week in the wind tunnel looking for development paths that can bring significant benefits, keeping the cost ceiling in mind. Parts will arrive from Baku. It’s actually the process that everyone is doing right now.”
Based on outright pace there is actually very little separating Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Mercedes currently.
Aston Martin perhaps have the edge at the moment and have arguably been Red Bull’s closest challenger; albeit, still considerably far behind the dominant Austrians.
McCullough seemingly believes the best of the AMR23 is yet to be seen and has hinted that venues with more corners will suit the car better, meaning Monaco could be strong for Aston Martin.
“Mercedes, Ferrari and we have been close since the tests,” added McCullough.
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“There are small differences between efficiency, slow curve, medium curve, fast curve. The cars do similar times but they achieve it in a different way.
“In any case, the trends of the single-seaters can be the consequence of strategic decisions due to the spending ceiling, so we must wait for the world championship to visit more varied circuits. Our car stands out more for the corners than for the speed on the straight.
“Last year we did a lot of rear wings to have an optimal one on many circuits, but that is very expensive. This year we have had the same wing for three races. We will introduce a rear wing in Baku, where a lot of efficiency is required, but we plan everything from the perspective of the cost ceiling.”