The Aston Martin drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll enjoyed a race weekend at the Circuit Paul Ricard-bound French Grand Prix that fetched the team 3 points, both racers finishing inside the points. That being said, while Sebastian Vettel, formerly with Ferrari finished with a respectable P9, Lance Stroll, having begun from the far end of the field finished 10th, a really commanding result.
While the likes of McLaren, two podiums from six races, it’s the likes of the Italian stable Alpha Tauri that Aston Martin are clearly embroiled in, given the mega mid-field tussle that sees both Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly performing nearly on par.
Moreover, Vettel, a vastly improved driver contesting for a new outfit than when compared to his forgettable 2020 Ferrari season, is rising back to the higher spectrum of the midfield is absolutely brilliant news for just about everybody following the enthralling F1 contests.
Following up on superb Baku podium that saw the German take second following Perez in a phenomenal run to the checkered flag, that the experienced competitor collected points in the very next race spelled fine results for a team that really needs some.
But there was something special about the 2021 French GP result that pleased the British racing outfit endlessly. So what is it and what’s making news for the Otmar Szafnauer-led outfit.
As a matter of fact, before the start of the 2021 French Grand Prix, held at Le Castellet, there were some vile allegations levelled against the team citing in lines with the outfit not following the Pirelli tyre prescriptions.
Given the spectacular crashes one saw at Baku, which saw Max Verstappen crashing out with just a handful of laps to go, in quite a bizarre fashion that mirrored the agonising Lance Stroll crash, it was alleged that both Red Bull and Aston Martin were in the wrong for running their respective cars below the mandated tyre prescriptions.
Autosport had the following to report on the matter:
The FIA and Pirelli subsequently brought in stricter tyre operating procedures for the Paul Ricard weekend, along with higher rear minimum pressures.
But that there was no crash and as a matter of fact, a fine result for Aston Martin in particular, puts to rest any doubts that the green-liveried team has been on the wrong side of the law.
Now that being said, here is what Otmar Szafnauer had to say about the recent events surrounding Aston Martin and their French Grand Prix run, which hopefully puts to rest the accusations leveled against the competitive midfielder:
“It has been tough, frustrating. Especially when you know exactly what you’re doing, and you’re well within the rules, for other people who don’t know what you’re doing to accuse you.
Hopefully that will silence them, but I can tell you that we’ve never done anything untoward.
We’ve always followed both the FIA and the Pirelli prescriptions, and will continue to do so.”
That being said, what the team would very much like to focus on right now is the upcoming double header in Austria or what could be called consecutive Grands Prix at the Spielberg-bound Austrian Grand Prix, the home race event of Red Bull. Another strong performance by the likes of Red Bull would keep the team, currently on 40 points, in great stead for the next couple of races, one reckons.