Yes, Aston Martin will race in Formula One. Or, at least, CEO David Richards has formally applied for his Prodrive team to gain one of the three available new entry spots onto next year’s F1 grid.
This is good news.
If successful, they’re expected to run under the Prodrive banner next season and then under the Aston Martin name by 2012.
This is really good news.
Prodrive are likely to keep their technical partnership ties with McLaren – that they set-up when looking at an entry 18 months ago – in a similar capacity to what McLaren have with Force India now.
It’s also on the cards that the engines will be Aston-badged customer jobs, obtained from a supplier. Maybe they’ll again follow Force India’s tie-in with McLaren and get Mercedes engines?
Richards started looking seriously at an entry when the FIA announced plans for a budget cap, and although those plans are now likely to change, it’s not deterred Richards.
“The level of next year’s cost cap has risen substantially since we originally considered entering,” says Richards.
“However everyone appears committed to major reductions in future years and when one takes into account the transition proposals for new teams we are confident that we now have the opportunity to be both commercially viable and competitive.
“As we have said all along, we don’t want to be in Formula 1 just to make up the numbers.”
No David, you certainly don’t. Now, about those Gulf racing colours…
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
JB1006 commented on this article
Monday June 1, 2009 at 7:07 pm
I agree with Nick. How can you expect brand new teams to have a history in F1? Of course they wont, otherwise they wouldn’t be new. The only teams with a history in F1 are the ones on the grid at the moment. If you expect all new teams to have a history in F1 or to have been a part of that history, then there wont be any
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uygar commented on this article
Tuesday June 2, 2009 at 12:38 am
It would be nice to see Aston Martin in F1 but how they could find enough money for r&d? Aston Martin is a profitable company but F1 needs a strong financial structure. If you are not strong and big enough, it sucks you in. And it will be very hard to keep up with Ferrari’s know-how. One of the most important thing. I hope that Aston Martin will not face the same end like Jaguar. But they should focus on producing better vehicles and strength their market position and expand to new markets instead of spending money on racing. I am sure that F1 will be benefcial for Aston Martin’s brand image but does it worth ?
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Aston DB9 commented on this article
Tuesday June 2, 2009 at 7:26 am
this is the best news ive had all year!!!!!!!! I’ll definetly be watching F1 next season!!!!! C’MON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!
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DBS commented on this article
Tuesday June 2, 2009 at 10:02 am
Lets hope they are as good in fomula 1 as they have been in la mans
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knoah18 commented on this article
Wednesday June 3, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Formula 1 today it’s hopeless…Eccleston needs to realize soon what’s the real meaning of F1, and come back to be a real atraction in tecnology and development…
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Stig's young bro commented on this article
Thursday June 4, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I can’t wait to see Aston Martin give it a shot in the F1, I think its a great idea, because Aston Martin is the ultimate car of passion in Great Britain, and they deserve a place in the F1, now lets hope they can do a good job.
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power commented on this article
Friday June 5, 2009 at 3:11 pm
that would improve f1
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torque commented on this article
Saturday June 6, 2009 at 3:03 pm
another british team on f1 THANK GOD!!!!!!
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spiff commented on this article
Saturday June 6, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Every year teams like this post an entry and it never gets close to getting on the grid, I like Dave Richards, but he did the same last year, where are team Prodrive?
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Big Dog commented on this article
Sunday June 14, 2009 at 5:10 pm
I wonder whether this is is a `tactic` to get Ferrari, Renault and the others to accept the new changes of budget capping.Its a scare tactic saying if you dont want it others will take it.
Regarding Astons entry it would be wonderful if they had their own engine as with Ferrari.Otherwise it wont wash.This could be a very expensive mistake for Aston.
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equadneva-tool commented on this article
Tuesday January 19, 2010 at 1:49 pm
lesa allt bloggid, nokkud gott
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Lucas.M commented on this article
Tuesday January 19, 2010 at 7:50 pm
They should enter F1 in 2012 as Prodrive, get a Mercedes engine and McLaren gearbox and keep sponsorship ties with McLaren. Drivers should be Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett.
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Aston Fan commented on this article
Tuesday March 9, 2010 at 2:19 pm
People say why call it prodrive then Aston. Well Prodrive are a racing team who make subaru rally cars and Aston DRRS9s and DBR9s so they are making sure the car is quick before giving it a Prestigious name
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