Pedro de la Rosa and Aston Martin’s improvements: ”We will be in a better position. I just hope that, when Alonso and Stroll get out of the car, they do it with a smile”
Pedro de la Rosain an interview published by the ‘PlanetF1.com’ portal, referred to the excitement generated by the first large aerodynamic package that Aston Martin will debut in the Hungarian GPwithin two races, which will arrive with a second part that completes that improvement in Zandvoortwhere the new and more powerful Honda engine is expected to debut.
The Catalan spoke about this evolution after Adrian Newey, Team Principal and designer of the car, made it clear that this package of improvements represents a big change and that he expects an important step forward from this ‘B’ car to fight “at least for the points.”
Added to this are the words of a Lance Strollwhich throughout the year has been very transparent in relation to everything that happened in the car. This time, his speech was much more optimistic than in previous months: “If the improvement is good, we will be able to fight for points. If it is very good, maybe for something more. In the simulator we go much faster.”
He talked about all this Pedro de la Rosa, ambassador of Aston Martin, in the aforementioned medium, making it clear that the evolutions “they excite”, but at the same time, we must “be realistic”take into account where Aston Martin is starting from (about 3.5 seconds from the lead) and that the team will need time to optimize the package and continue improving.
“Basically, (the evolutions) have to help drivers fight… to compete, to enjoy, to have a more predictable, faster and, ultimately, more competitive car,” he said.
“We should never set a goal for how much we want to improve with this update, because there are still many unknowns and we must be very cautious. There is no point in making promises; we simply have to prove it on the track. Right now we are in a situation where we are last; the only thing we can do is deliver results. Our fans deserve it, and we all want to have a more competitive car,” added the Spaniard, who did not want to set a specific goal in seconds in relation to these developments.
“Adrian (Newey) has explained it very well. It’s not just an aerodynamic improvement; there are many areas of the car that will be stronger, starting also with the weight reduction program we are carrying out. I just hope that, when Lance and Fernando get out of the car, they do it with a smile and having been able to fight on the track. At this moment we are not able to do it,” Pedro said.
“We are excited, but we are also realistic,” he pointed out, highlighting the enormous work behind these evolutions at the Silverstone factory.
“The message is that we are working hard. There are many areas in which we are improving and will continue to improve, although there will still be other aspects that will require additional development”he commented, surely the team will take a step forward.
“Even so, we will be in a better position than the current one. The fans deserve it, our partners tooand our people… I’m not just talking about Fernando and Lance, but about all the people in the factory who have been working tirelessly. They are also responsible for the results and, honestly, they did not deserve this situation,” he argued.
But he was clear when it came to remembering that “we must not forget that Formula 1 is extremely complicated and we are starting from far behind, so it will take time.”
“It’s not that Hungary is going to mark a before and after. It will simply be another step in the process, another development program… I mean it doesn’t end there; it’s a continuous process,” he concluded, along the same lines as Mike Krack already showed himself last Sunday, when Aston Martin’s track manager made it clear that he was “pretty sure” that the development of the car during the year would not end with these improvements.
