Aston Martin Launches its F1 Challenger
It’s 12 February and the newly renamed Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 team (Cognizant no longer being a title sponsor) formally launched the AMR24 as a World Championship challenger for this year’s title. It is the first Aston Martin F1 car to be built at the new Aston Martin Racing Technology Campus (AMRTC) in Silverstone. It was part of a day of a trilogy of Aston Martin launches, starting at midnight with the new Vantage road car and the racing Vantage GT3. The ‘launch’ was mainly ‘virtual’ and can be seen on YouTube (see below). However, in its iconic F1 racing green livery the AMR24 was hailed as representing a strong evolution from the 2023 machine, which catapulted the team to eight podium finishes and 280 points in the Constructors Championship, with the majority of the 15,000 parts being new for 2024. This continuous refinement has resulted in a lighter, more aerodynamically efficient race car, designed to operate more effectively and consistently at the 24 circuits that are on the calendar for the 2024 season.
At the launch, Dan Fallows, AMF1’s Technical Director, explained how the team approached the AMR24: ‘I would call the AMR24 a strong evolution of last year's car and it does look quite different with many new parts, to give us a strong platform for development. The chassis design is new, as well as the nose, front wing, front suspension and rear suspension. The front will work more efficiently alongside the front wing and aero work had been done at the rear to optimise the layout. We want to compete in the development race this season and this car is designed to do just that. Another area of focus has been to broaden the car's operating window. We have focused on more versatility for a wider range of specific circuit characteristics. We want a race car that is more of an all-rounder. We believe the AMR24 provides the ideal platform for in-season development and a sustained season-long challenge.’
In support of this, Mike Krack, the Team Principal, said: ‘It is the result of a huge effort by the whole team at our new AMR Technology Campus and it will allow the team to take another step forward in 2024. Since the last race in 2023, everyone has been hyper-focused on improvements in every area. Almost every area of the car has been refined and improved, building on our strengths and taking on board the lessons of the previous campaign. 2023 was our best season to date and our goal this season is to score regular points, podiums and fight for our first win in green.’
So, what’s ‘under the bonnet’? The front wing design has been altered to help manage front wheel wake in a more efficient manner. Combined with the over-wheel winglets, the aim is to control the wake from the front tyres and direct it away from the rest of the car to allow the other downforce-producing surfaces to work more efficiently. Also, the current F1 regulations have placed huge emphasis on the floor and sidepod design. On the AMR24, an overhaul of the sidepods and bodywork has been undertaken to improve airflow management around the floor and over the rear wing. Furthermore, the car will utilise a push-rod suspension layout both front and rear. This sees the wheel assembly joined to the chassis by a diagonal structure, with a higher point on the car's body. Additionally, the front suspension has been changed to improve performance in conjunction with the front wing and floor while the rear suspension has been optimised to maximise efficiency of air flow around the rear wing, accommodating Mercedes' latest power unit and gearbox.
What do the drivers think? Fernando Alonso is ready to go, stating that ‘I am incredibly proud of this team and what has been achieved in such a short space of time. Not only the progress on the track, but the investment in all areas off-track at the AMRTC. I am excited to get in the cockpit and start my second season in green.’ And Lance Stroll continued the theme. ‘We all want to push on from what we achieved last year, especially in the final part of the season when we made some strong progress – learning more about the car. I think that sets us up nicely for the new season and I can't wait to get going.’ Nor can I!
I hope that by the time that you’ve read this you have seen the outcome of the first race of the season, whether all the hopes have been realised and that one of the green machine drivers has ended up on the podium.
AMR24 Technical Specifications
- CHASSIS Carbon fibre composite monocoque with Zylon legality side anti-intrusion panels
- SUSPENSION Aluminium uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, track rod and pushrod. Inboard chassis mounted torsion springs, dampers and anti-roll bar assembly
- WHEELS BBS Front: 18” x 13.2”, Rear: 18” x 16.9”
- CLUTCH AP Racing
- TYRES Pirelli P Zero
- BRAKE SYSTEM Brembo brake callipers and in-house designed brake-by-wire system with carbon fibre discs and pads
- ELECTRONICS FIA single ECU with in-house designed electrical harness
- OVERALL WIDTH 2,000mm
- WHEELBASE 3,600mm max
- OVERALL WEIGHT Overall vehicle weight 798kg (including driver, excluding fuel). Weight distribution between 44.5% and 46.0%
- ENGINE PU SPEC Mercedes-AMG F1 M15 E Performance. 1.6l V6 Turbo charged & energy recovery system
- TRANSMISSION Mercedes F1 eight-speed, semi-automatic