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Racing Point Team Principal Szafnauer: Aston Martin deal is a "win-win"

25 February 2020 at 18:12
Last update 25 February 2020 at 18:49

    Racing Point team principal Otmar Szafnauer believes that the planned integration of Aston Martin for 2021 will be a win-win for both companies.

    In 2021, Racing Point will merge with the British sports car company to become a full works team, after Aston Martin cut their ties with Red Bull at the end of the season.

    Lawrence Stroll purchased a shareholding in the struggling car marker, ensuring a long-term future for the brand, and team principal Otmar Szafnauer believes that plans to share technical expertise between both companies are already in the pipeline.

    "It's a win-win," Szafnauer said speaking to Motorsport.com. "It should be beneficial for both sides. I mean, we're becoming a works team, with a fabulous name. And Aston Martin will get some trickle down technology from F1, and some technology transfer.

    "We've got a nice wind tunnel in Brackley that they can use. We've got aerodynamicists that they can tap into as well. And I'm sure that there will be other technologies that will trickle down into the road cars."

    However, when asked if technology would be travelling in the opposite direction, Szafnauer confirmed that there were no plans on the table as of yet, as well as saying that in the new Silverstone based factory, that there would be a department to accommodate road car designers.

    "It looks like at our new facility they'll probably have 100 design engineers sitting with us too, so they'll be a true integration - the people who are at Red Bull now will transfer over to us. They're just sitting with us, they'll be under the same roof."

    Szafnauer believes that the Aston brand will help attract the very best candidates as it continues to build its staffing levels in an attempt to become a powerhouse within the sport.

    "We're looking to get bigger. We're nearly at 500 now, and we're not going to stop. But my philosophy has always been you have to recruit the right people because it's a team effort."