In the first five races, the AMR22 was not worthy of an Aston Martin. The team was only able to score six points. The bulbous green racer suffered extremely from the phenomenon of bouncing (jumping on the straights), which is why the technicians had to raise the vehicle. As a result, the aerodynamics no longer worked: too little downforce, too much air resistance.
But at the Spanish GP in Barcelona everything should be different. In a real tour de force, the British sports car manufacturer’s team brought two completely renewed cars to the Circuit de Catalunya. Both for Lawrence Stroll and for Sebastian Vettel. It is clear at first glance: the B version of the AMR22 has undergone a radical cure.
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Nothing can be seen of the extremely bulbous and undercut sidepods, which many experts shook their heads about at the presentation. It’s completely different now: the new sidepods that slope towards the rear are reminiscent of the Red Bull, Alpha Tauri and Alpine versions. They should guide the air more directly to the lower rear wing element and thus increase downforce without producing too much drag. In addition, the Silverstone-based team has given its racing car a completely new underbody, a new rear wing, a new hood and even new wings on the Halo cockpit bar.
Vettel also thanks the technicians who have also converted his car in various night shifts.
Aston Martin was particularly inspired by the winning Red Bull. As with the RB18, a small step can be seen in the bodywork. The cooling fins also have the same arrangement as on the Verstappen mobile. This means that the technicians also worked under the skin and placed the coolers differently. They were previously horizontal and are now installed at an angle. This in turn saves space and gives the air flow more room.
Explosive: Even the cooling inlets and exterior mirrors are reminiscent of the Red Bull. In the paddock, it has long been joked that Aston Martin has experience in making copies – after all, the 2020 Racing Point was also a replica of the 2019 world champion Mercedes.
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But one thing is also certain: watching is not prohibited in Formula 1 as long as no data is exchanged. Experts therefore expect a lot from the new Aston Martin. Sebastian Vettel himself curbs the euphoria: “I don’t have any great expectations,” says the man from Heppenheim. “The car looks completely different, but we don’t expect a massive, fast jump. Nevertheless, we believe in the concept.”
Vettel also thanks the technicians who have also converted his car in various night shifts. At first there was speculation that only one car could be completed due to problems with the supply chains. Vettel: “That was a big push in the factory. I am very excited about the performance and the first feeling in the car.”
If that’s a good thing, the AMR22 might get a name from the four-time champion after all. So far there has been no baptism. But the German felt extremely comfortable in the Red Bull from 2009 to 2013…
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