Formula 1 as a sport is defined by its grueling competition. But unlike some other motorsport leagues, not all the teams in F1 fight it out on a level playing field. The cost cap and wind tunnel testing allowance introduced by the FIA did help the smaller teams by limiting how much money and time a team can utilize in solving an issue. But bigger, more established teams like Mercedes and Ferrari do inherently have an advantage over their customer teams like Haas. However, all that is about to change for the Aston Martin F1 team in 2024 as Lawrence Stroll‘s $220 million plan is coming to fruition.

Aston Martin is set for a big change in 2024 as it gears up to use its very own wind tunnel. A significant departure from its reliance on Mercedes’ wind tunnel in Brackley. This shift comes as part of a bigger transformation at Aston Martin’s Silverstone headquarters, which recently moved into a new factory in 2023. Recently, the team’s technical director, Dan Fallows, shed light upon anticipation within the team to finally have their wind tunnel testing facility.

Aston Martin will have their new wind tunnel ready by the end of 2024

Aston Martin F1 Team Engineering Director, Luca Furbatto highlighted the significance of the new campus earlier this year. He was also excited about the completion of the first phase and anticipated the full potential to be realized by early 2025. The campus will include new gearbox dynos and a wind tunnel, all of it set to be operational in the coming years. The presence of Fernando Alonso in the team further adds to the excitement. At 42 years old, Alonso defies any age-related concerns, showcasing stellar performances with seven podium finishes in the 2023 season.

In a recent interview with Speedcafe, Dan Fallows highlighted the advantages of having a wind tunnel, emphasizing the flexibility it brings to the team. Fallows said, “Having been in an environment where you have that flexibility (with your own wind tunnel) and then having to share a wind tunnel with somebody else, even though it’s a very good facility. It gives you so much more ability to do research projects around your normal wind tunnel development programme.“

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Lawrence Stroll’s $220,000,000 “Game-Changer” Set to Propel Fernando Alonso to Victory

Aston Martin’s new wind tunnel is expected to be ready by the summer break. However, Dan Fallows thinks it will not be until the end of the year that the facility “should be up and running.” While Aston Martin currently shares the wind tunnel facility with Mercedes, the Brackley-based team follows strict procedures to ensure confidentiality.

Accessing the Mercedes wind tunnel through different doors

Tom McCullough, the Performance Director at Aston Martin, recently shed light on the nuances of managing relationships with Mercedes when it comes to using the same facility for things as crucial as aerodynamic testing. He emphasized the strict measures in place to maintain confidentiality, including separate access doors and distinct personnel overseeing the sessions.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, McCullough revealed, “The FIA are pretty strict and do a lot of inspections and all that stuff. Dominic Harlow [head of F1 technical audit] comes and visits the teams. But for us with Mercedes, it is absolutely shut down to one, open to the other. Different access doors, different people running the sessions.”

He also explained the transparency required during FIA inspections, emphasizing the governing body’s authority to keep a close eye on every aspect. Do you think Fernando Alonso will stick it out in Formula 1 till 2025 or 2026 when Aston Martin will start to fully realize the gains from their own aerodynamic testing facility? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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