Former McLaren boss Whitmarsh to join Aston Martin

F1 News

21 September 2021 at 15:39
Last update 21 September 2021 at 17:28
  • GPblog.com

That Aston Martin has high ambitions in Formula 1 is well known by now. Owner Lawrence Stroll is sparing no effort to eventually win the world title. The team has recruited many experienced personnel in recent months. Just like now.

Martin Whitmarsh to Aston Martin

The newest addition to the team is Martin Whitmarsh, former CEO of McLaren Racing. The Brit replaced Ron Dennis at McLaren in 2009 but was forced to replace Dennis again in 2014 after disappointing results. Since then, Whitmarsh has been a consultant to the FIA and sat on Formula E's global advisory board, among other things. Whitmarsh is also part of the Hamilton Commission which was launched by Lewis Hamilton in 2020 to increase diversity in motorsport.

Whitmarsh will become Chief Executive Officer of the new Aston Martin Performance Technologies at Aston Martin Group. " Martin will be given senior leadership responsibility and will help and support me in setting the new strategic direction for Aston Martin Performance Technologies and its subsidiaries, including the critical objective of leading the transformation of the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team into an organisation that wins the Formula One World Championship within the next four to five years, and to grow it into a £1 billion business in a similar period," Stroll further explains the company's ambitions at Motorsportweek.com.

Winning world championships

Whitmarsh is delighted to be joining Aston Martin. "I have known and admired Lawrence for many years, and I have always been very impressed by his formidable business acumen and his seemingly inexhaustible ambition. Lawrence wants to win Formula One world championships with Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team. I would only have joined him if I was convinced that this goal was fully achievable. I know what it takes to win in Formula One and, inspired by Lawrence's leadership and supported by the skill, passion and determination of the staff, I intend to do everything in my power to ensure that our team becomes the winning operation that Lawrence is determined it must become."