A few days before winter testing, the Aston Martin AMR23 experienced a smooth tarmac baptism during a day of filming at Silverstone on Wednesday.
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Quebec’s Lance Stroll started the day on a wet track before switching to dry tires and completing 17 laps before handing over to Fernando Alonso in the afternoon. The newcomer completed 16 laps to end the formula car’s working day.
Of course, the search for performance was not on the agenda at all. The aim of this session was to get the car out on track for the first time to ensure everything is in order ahead of winter testing scheduled for February 23rd, 24th and 25th in Bahrain.
So to start the engine and complete 33 laps is great news in itself. Especially since performance director Tom McCullough revealed that the car’s design started almost from scratch.
“We’re pleased with how our day of shooting went because it takes a tremendous effort to get to this point every year,” he said in a press release from the team. The car is about 95% different from last year, so it’s nice to see it on track and that everything is going well.
Good feelings
Stroll, meanwhile, indicated that his first presence on board his new car had given him good feelings. Excited to get back into action, he seems optimistic going into his seventh season.
“Everything worked as planned and ran smoothly, which is the most important thing as we prepare for the upcoming stages in Bahrain,” said the Montreal native. We know there is always a lot to learn at the beginning of the year, but we got off to a good start this morning and I really enjoyed being behind the wheel again. There is nothing quite like stepping your right foot into a brand new Formula 1 car after a long winter break!”
Alonso, too, is pleased with a “smooth plan” and now turns his gaze to the Arabian Gulf, anxiously awaiting where the team will be on the chessboard.
“We just have to wait for next week’s tests and we’ll get to know our car better and better understand where the competition is after the winter,” concluded Alonso.