Aston Martin is set to bring “another big component” to the Belgian Grand Prix car to complete development in 2025, according to team principal Andy Cowell.
Aston Martin upgraded the UK Grand Prix, leading it to a double-point finish, extending the scoring race weekend for four consecutive years. These new parts have focused primarily on floor and engine covers, following many developments since the start of the European season. Cowell says that race breaks offer an opportunity to analyze their impact before further updates at Spa Franco Champ.
“Collecting data for aerodynamic packages was difficult (with silverstone) due to wet and variable conditions, but we gather at the factory to solve exactly what we learned about changing the floor and minor top bodywork,” Cowell told SiriusXM.
“We’ve got another big component coming to the spa, and we’re going to solve what we’ve been doing for the rest of the year as well. We can’t have more aerodynamic resources, but if we can find something that can help us refine our tools, it’s going to be useful after 26 years.”
Sauber’s improvements have been eye-opening in recent races, but Aston Martin also concluded the gap between Williams and the Racing Bulls in the past four rounds of Constructors Championship.
“The mood is more positive. If the car gets faster and earns points, you can get feedback. There’s the same amount of hard work regardless, but having positive feedback on points is always good for the mood on campus on Monday mornings.
“As before, there’s always a lot to improve performance. The packages placed in Imora’s cars were on track, and now there are a few races where you can look at the data and compare yourself to your opponents.
But it understands the car, understands the nuances of the car, and understands the best way to optimize the car around it. Not only does it know the strengths and weaknesses of the car, but it also knows that the team that supports the factory, the Team Trackside, is working well together.