Aston Martin returns to Formula One after Le Mans success

The Aston Martin name is back in Grand Prix racing for the first time in six decades.

The Aston Martin Formula One Team will make its race debut in Melbourne, Australia, in November 2021, marking a return to top-flight single-seater competition for the luxury carmaker.

The British car manufacturer has enjoyed great success in sportscar racing in recent years, highlighted by multiple class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and now the time has come for Aston Martin to commit to the most famous of all motorsport arenas: Formula 1.

Aston Martin understands the power of Formula 1 when it comes to brand awareness. Much work has already been done via the company’s title sponsorship of Red Bull Racing but Aston Martin will now take this to new heights as it joins the F1 elite as a manufacturer.

Aston Martin has been a mainstay of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) since the series was formed in 2012. Two versions of the Vantage GTE race car have been used, competing across seven WEC seasons. In February, the team will reveal its 2021 F1 car and livery, which includes four-time Formula 1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel and multiple Grand Prix podium finisher, Lance Stroll

In February, the team will reveal its 2021 F1 car and livery, which includes four-time Formula 1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel and multiple Grand Prix podium finisher, Lance Stroll.

Otmar Szafnauer, CEO and team principal, said: “We’ve had almost a year of preparation to reach this point and we’re really looking forward to seeing the reaction when we finally unveil our new identity as the Aston Martin Formula One Team. Representing such an iconic brand is a huge privilege for every member of the team. We’ve earned a well-deserved reputation for punching above our weight, so we’re confident we can do the Aston Martin name proud right from the get-go. It’s the start of a new journey and I can sense an extra energy in the team, with a determination to push performance further than ever before. Combined with some of the most creative minds in the business, a true racers’ mentality and the can-do spirit that has served us so well through the years, we have every reason to be excited about the future.”

It will be an historic moment when two Aston Martin Formula 1 cars line-up on the grid in Melbourne, returning the luxury marque to Grand Prix racing for the first time in 60 years and starting a new era for a truly great British brand.