Aston Martin had to use separate doors while sharing F1 wind tunnel with Mercedes

Aston Martin had to share a wind-tunnel facility with Mercedes before its own wind tunnel completed construction this year..

Aston Martin had to use separate doors while sharing F1 wind tunnel with Mercedes

Fernando Alonso and Mike Krack (via IMAGO)

The 2023 season marked a remarkable campaign for Aston Martin. However, due to the non-rewarding mid-season upgrades, the British team fell short in pace and performance as compared to its rivals. As such, the Silverstone-based outfit to sustain a P5 finish in the constructor’s championship.

Aston Martin has since completed the construction of a separate wind tunnel facility for the development of the cars. Anyhow, the Silverstone had to share wind tunnel facilities with Mercedes for the mid-season upgrades. Amidst this, the team had to follow specific rules and regulations to use the facility as the performance director of Aston Martin revealed the situation.

YouTube video

Tom McCullough explained that during the season, the Silverstone had to use different access doors and different people had to run the sessions in the shared facility. However, McCullough highlighted that it was necessary from a confidentiality point of view. Additionally, FIA overlooked all the inspection processes and did their policing job over the teams.

FS Video
For us with Mercedes, it is absolutely shut down to one, open to the other. Different access doors, different people running the sessions. So, I think from a confidentiality [point of view], obviously the relationship we have with Mercedes is very robust from that side. The FIA, that's their job to police all that.
McCullough said, as reported by motorsport.com.

Tom McCullough insisted Aston Martin could not replicate the big jump in performance

Despite the late-season slump, McCullough pondered over the boost in performance for Aston Martin this season. Since the team was not as competitive in the previous season, it was easy to have such a ‘big jump’ in performance this season according to the performance director. However, another jump would be impossible as it would put the team above Red Bull in terms of pace and performance.

Aston Martin AMR23
Aston Martin AMR23 (via Aston Martin).

Nonetheless, the team did perform much better as compared to the performance in 2022. McCullough highlighted that after the mid-season break, Aston Martin gained a lot closer to the fourth-fastest team by the end of the 2022 season. Hence, after an above-average performance in 2023, the team needs to replicate a similar performance.

Aston Martin finished fifth in the constructor’s this season amidst the late-season slump. As the Silverstone prepares itself over the winter break, the team needs to rediscover a better form for a better finish in the standings for the subsequent season. With upgrading performance from the rival teams, even Aston Martin needs to showcase a similar raise in performance to provide the two-time world champion with an opportunity to shine.

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