Rumor: Aston Martin to be defacto Mercedes ‘B’ team

Looking at the movement of staff in the F1 paddock, former Ferrari engineer Ernest Knoors thinks that the plans are even bigger than they seem for the Aston Martin F1 team.

“I think Aston Martin is a very interesting project to keep an eye on for the future. I think there is also a bit of shifting of important people behind the scenes in Formula 1,” he told RTLGP.

“It’s a bit of a guess if you’re not really in it, but I do suspect that more is happening at Aston Martin than we are seeing now, that there is a bigger plan behind it.

“Aston Martin already has cars in other championships and there is quite a bit of involvement from AMG engineers there. Those are things that do point in a certain direction, let me put it this way.”

That could be taken several ways, one of which is Aston Martin will start as the Mercedes ‘B’ team and eventually become the ‘A’ team as Mercedes moves it product line to all-electric in years to come.

Discussing the transition, team principal Otmar Szafnauer said that he and the staff feel privileged to be representing such an iconic brand.

“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 1 Team,” he said in an official press release.

“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.”

Executive chairman Lawrence Stroll (shown above) said the team’s involvement in F1 will help reignite the Aston Martin brand on a global scale.

“Formula 1 is a hugely powerful platform that will play a key part in the overall Aston Martin strategy as we seek to take the company forward,” Stroll added.

“It is a truly global sport with a huge audience that we believe can help reignite the brand and further increase its desirability all over the world.

“This is a brand that has already had huge success in top-level international motorsport such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans – and now we have an opportunity to write a new page in the history books.

“That’s a hugely exciting prospect for anyone who is a lover of the Aston Martin brand, for fans of Formula 1 and the sport itself.”