Aston Martin has had an outstanding start to the 2023 season as they are currently in third in the Constructors’ Championship. The British outfit is just behind leaders Red Bull and second-placed Mercedes, two teams that have dominated most of the last decade.
Since Aston Martin is just into their third season in F1, many wonder who is behind their staggering success so far. As per Business F1 columnist Lewis Webster, Lawrence Stroll owes his team’s success to former team principal Otmar Szafnauer and not British businessman Martin Whitmarsh.
Szafnauer, who is currently serving as the team principal of Alpine, previously served at Force India, the team that Aston Martin bought. However, the Romanian’s longstanding relationship with the team all ended when Whitmarsh joined the side. After leaving the team at the beginning of last year, Szafnauer explained his reasoning behind it.
He said (as quoted by planetf1.com), “Although they asked me to stay, I didn’t think it was appropriate for someone (Whitmarsh) to come in and do 95% of your job and (I) do 5%. I probably could have stayed where I was, taken the pay cheque to the bank every month. That’s not me. I’m a racer“.
Since Szafnauer has been with the team since 2009, he has undoubtedly played a major role in their success. While he is no longer at the team, he undoubtedly helped them get to a point where they could take the next big step.
Aston Martin’s new recruits have helped them achieve fantastic success
Ever since Dan Fallows and Eric Blandin joined the team from Red Bull, Aston Martin has achieved enormous success. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who previously drove for Alpine, has already finished on the podium on five occasions after the first seven races.
According to Business F1 columnist Lewis Webster, the hiring of Fallows and Blandin was suggested by none other than Otmar Szafnauer. Lewis states that the Romanian made the suggestion to Lawrence Stroll before he left the team.
And as it so happens, it is the same hiring that seems to have put pressure on Szafnauer now. Aston Martin seems to be exceeding expectations, while Alpine seems to be struggling.
And as expected, Szafnauer is far from happy to see the French outfit behind Aston Martin. According to the Business F1 columnist, Szafnauer has been boasting about how it was he that suggested Lawrence sign Fallows and Blandin.
Lawrence Stroll hired Martin Whitmarsh to help Aston Martin grow
Even though former Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer revealed the hiring of Martin Whitmarsh as the reason for him leaving the side, Lawrence Stroll has explained that he only signed the Briton to help the team grow.
As quoted by Sky Sports F1, Lawrence said, “He (Whitmarsh) is a proven winner in Formula 1. He is therefore the ideal person for the job of working with me and our senior management team to lead and inspire our workforce to future success both on and off track“.
However, as per recent reports, Whitmarsh may have done more harm than good for Aston Martin. According to Business F1, it is Whitmarsh who snubbed Mercedes and went ahead and signed the controversial engine deal with Honda from the 2026 season onwards.
Business F1’s report claims that Whitmarsh’s move may result in Lawrence’s ties with Mercedes getting severed. Mercedes have already reportedly voiced their concerns about the same, and hence, this move from Whitmarsh may take Aston Martin to a rough spot in the future years.
