Tom McCullough, Aston Martin Formula 1 performance director, hopes that the 2024 season turns out to be “fantastic for the sport”. He expressed his excitement as the F1 field converges at the end of 2023 season
Max Verstappen remained unchallenged throughout the season. However, at season finale eight teams featured in the top 10. It shows a positive sign for the sport as the third season of current regulations looms.
“If you look at the fact that there were eight teams in the top 10 and how close qualifying was. That’s phenomenal, isn’t it really?” he said.
“And it just shows you that with stable regulations there’s always an element of convergence.
“Some teams have developed really well this year. But I think they’d be the first to admit they started badly as well. So I think next year, it’s going to be fantastic for the sport.
“I think trackside execution is going to be important, and I don’t think the margins are going to be enormous.
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“But everyone’s trying to get that extra 10-15-20 points [of downforce] more than everybody else because that just gives you the advantage on track.”
McCullough conceded that it will remain a challenge for the Aston Martin to reproduce similar proportion of progress. It went from seventh place to challenge teams for the podium at the start of 2023.
“Obviously, I think it’s helped when you weren’t as strong last season to make such a big jump,” he said. “And if we were to make the same jump now. We’ll be well ahead of Red Bull, which is not going to happen!
“During last year we were developing the car, and by the end of the year, we were actually a lot closer to the fourth fastest team. So yes, we were closer to the front. But the jump wasn’t as big if you look at the end of 2022, really.”
McCullough explained Aston Martin’s ambition for next car. He claims that team aims for a thorough car, which doesn’t compromise on different venues.
“We’re trying to put a car together that you can take to all the tracks and just change the rear wing level, front wing level, and bang, be strong,” he said.
“At the moment, we’re having to sort of change components a bit, whether the bias is towards low-speed, high-speed, efficiency, etc. So that’s why we’ve been changing some components from event to event.
“The aim next year is to have a car that you don’t need to do that as much, and the base level is just higher.”
