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Aston Martin is mulling the possibility of joining Formula 1 in the future, depending on the outcome of 2021 rules discussions.
Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer, who recently attended a meeting of the FIA’s engine working group, said the British marque could justify some sort of involvement in F1 if the entry and maintenance costs could be controlled. Currently, sitting on the ‘periphery of F1’ Aston Martin sponsors Red Bull Racing and is working on the Valkyrie hypercar with Adrian Newey.
With its major competitor as Ferrari, the company however sees the rationale for being more involved in the sport. “We don’t have the 350-400m a year that you have to spend on F1,” said Palmer. “If – and it really is the big if – there is a cap put on the number of people or the amount of money that you can spend on developing a new engine, and it’s at a reasonable level, we have a good reason to study it.”
Cosworth is working with Aston on the Valkyrie project’s engine, but Palmer said there was “no certainty” that the two companies would work together on an F1 project. However, he added: “We obviously have a good relationship with Cosworth, and if you’re trying to create a relationship which says ‘Valkyrie, F1, by the way when you buy your £150,000 Aston there’s something in the bloodline,’ then obviously it makes sense to try and bring it all together.”
