Aston Martin have shown ambition by returning to F1 after six decades. This ambition has been mirrored by members of the team, who are quite confident in their ability to succeed. Team principal Otmar Szafnauer believes that in less than five years, the team will have a chance at fighting for the title.

The team have already gathered a few building blocks to achieve this goal. Chief among them has to be the signing of Sebastian Vettel, who will add much-needed gravitas to the team. They also have what is the best engine in the class, the Mercedes power unit.

Aston Martin team principal spells out the team’s ambitions

In an interview on the day of the launch, team principal Szafnauer was fairly practical with his expectations for the team in 2021.

“It’s a lot easier to say we’re going to be fighting and winning a world championship than actually do it.”

The Romanian thought that with the restructuring of the team happening this season, the team needs time to compete at the front. He said, “People in Formula 1, in other teams have said you’ve got to give us three to five years to do so and we’re no different.”

“For the last year we’ve planned a new factory with new infrastructure in a place to house all of us under one roof, to grow the team. The implementation of that has just now begun at Silverstone. Towards the end of 2022 we should be moving into a new factory.”

He thinks the new factory will be a major component in them being title challengers. He said, “And within that factory, we’re going to need state-of-the-art tools that will help us design and develop a car that’s worthy of contending for a world championship.

“That’s a few years away. If I have to look into the future it’ll be in the three to five year time period.”

Where should they aspire to finish in 2021?

The Silverstone-based team will have a difficult transition to make from its previous iteration. They will have a 25℅ increase in personnel this season, and while it will be difficult to handle, it might give them the boost they need to improve on their 2020 performance.

They will also need to help new driver Sebastian Vettel bed into the team. How he settles into his role within the team will be very fascinating to watch. 

Considering the several changes the team are undergoing, no one knows for sure how the team’s first season will pan out.

But if it ends up going well, they should aim to finish third, behind Red Bull and Mercedes. This is fairly possible, as they were close to doing so in 2020 itself, but they were pipped at the post by McLaren.

So, do you think Aston Martin can play their cards right and avenge their 2020 loss this season?

Let us know down below.