Aston Martin’s best F1® performance yet

With eight podiums, 280 points and six sprints, 2023 was Aston Martin’s best Formula One® season so far. We finished fifth in the Constructor’s Championship, just 22 points shy of fourth. There’s much to be proud of, a lot to learn, and the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One® team will be looking to up the intensity further still next season.


2023 began with a new Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One® car: AMR23. A bold and aggressive design that proved its competitiveness from its very first race in Bahrain.


Piloting one of them, our new driver, two-time World Champion, Fernando Alonso. He pulled off breathtaking moves in his first race for the team, to finish third. Whilst Lance Stroll finished sixth, despite a collision.


Five more podiums followed, to deliver a stunning six podiums out of the first eight races. An astonishing track record, difficult to maintain throughout the 2nd half of the year. Yet, we finished strong. Lance gained 14 positions in Las Vegas, and Fernando ended fourth in the Driver’s Championship. His best season in 12 years.


The Aston Martin F1® team will need to develop, and upgrade tirelessly to improve its results. So, they’ll be looking to apply learnings from this season, to come back even stronger in 2024. This year, Aston Martin picked up points in every weekend bar two. Next year, the sights will be set even higher.


"What an incredible season we had.” – Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1® team


Development. Intensified.

The Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One® Team’s on track learnings aren’t restricted to the track. Crucial insights break out from track limits, and flow towards road-legal Aston Martin supercars, such as Valhalla.

 

The brand’s first mid-engine supercar’s development has shifted up a gear, thanks to findings coming out of the world’s fastest laboratory – Formula 1®. These benefit Valhalla in three key areas: dynamics, aerodynamics and materials.


Valhalla’s dynamics have been informed by lessons learned only when Fernando and Lance push, and sometimes, exceed the limits.


Valhalla’s driving position has been optimised with help from the F1® team. Raised heel, reclined seat and low roofline all maximise the driver’s feeling of connection with the car, and the pleasure from driving it.


Like AMR23, all elements of Valhalla’s body shape are designed to maximise downforce. Incredibly, Valhalla is capable of even more grip, balance and consistency than AMR23 because it’s not restricted by F1® regulations. Front and rear wings, and aero features, are all optimised to allow Valhalla drivers to get the most from its chassis and tyres.


The carbon technologies team in Aston Martin Performance Technologies (AMPT) develops ideas evolved in F1® and applies them to Valhalla. F1®-derived autoclave technology is essentially a high-pressure oven that ‘cooks’ the carbon fibre. It means Valhalla’s passenger cell can be made from a singular piece of carbon fibre, and so is as stiff, light and strong as it can be.

The best is yet to come

The Aston Martin F1® team may have performed above expectations in 2023, but those expectations are now officially raised.


Optimisation is the name of the game. With a constant cycle of preparation, execution and analysis, Aston Martin will come back even stronger next year.


Just one day after the last race of the season, Aston Martin drivers were already back on track in Abu Dhabi for tyre tests, and for their final outings in AMR23.


It’s a dedication the team looks for in possible superstar drivers of the future. Since 1989, the Aston Martin Autosport BRDC (British Racing Driver’s Club) Award has offered a cash prize and a test drive in a Formula One® car. In October 2023, 2022’s winner, Luke Browning, took to Silverstone’s legendary track in an Aston Martin AMR21.


“It was just as fast as anyone might think it could be – absolutely ballistic! The power, brakes and high-speed downforce were just incredible. I’m truly lost for words.” – Luke Browning


In November 2023, the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One® team announced Tina Hausmann as its driver in the female-only single-seater racing championship, F1® Academy. Tina, from Zurich in Switzerland, will compete in seven rounds that support the Formula One® series. On board with PREMA Racing, she’ll wear Aston Martin’s iconic green overalls and race in specially designed Aston Martin livery.


Welcome to the team, Tina. Congratulations to everyone involved in making this year’s F1® season such a success, and thank you to all our fans for your support. Here’s to a 2024 that overtakes 2023.