Aston Martin must improve the aerodynamic "operating window" of the AMR23 Formula 1 car after discovering the weakness in their package, according to a key team member. The Silverstone-based squad have enjoyed a strong start to the season – with six podiums from eight races – and currently sit third in the Constructors' Championship, with a majority of the opening Grands Prix being held on street or temporary circuits. At the recent Spanish Grand Prix – the first on a so-called 'proper' track since the Bahrain opener – Aston were off the pace, recording their worst two-car finish of the season with a sixth and seventh. Performance Director Tom McCullough has revealed that the team have been forced to make "compromises" to the set-up in a bid to overcome the weaknesses of the car.
Aston's weaknesses
"We know that the car is strong in a lot of conditions, but the operating window of the car from an aerodynamic point of view isn't and hasn't been as broad as we'd like it to be," McCullough explained to media, including RacingNews365.com. "That means you just have to make compromises in terms of set-up and sometimes that means it's harder to optimise the car around a specific circuit or that there are circuits which just don't suit us. "One of the targets [for the Canadian Grand Prix] update, and also for the ones that are coming, is to try and make sure that that's less of a problem in the future. "We have several tracks which are kind of reference tracks, like the Bahrains and Barcelonas which are the type of circuits we will probably lean on the most [as they have] a good variety of corners. "They are much easier for us to understand how the car works, but our target is to make a car that can operate at any circuit in any conditions."
Upgrades changing the behaviour
Aston's Canada upgrade included a new floor and engine cover, with McCullough explaining that the intention is to widen the window in which the car can perform. "Updates change the behaviour of the car, and it's something we tried to achieve with this update," he said. "In previous updates as well, we tried to improve the operating window of the car as there are some circuits where we are stronger, and some weaker. "We wanted to try and make it so the car is driveable and useable but also performs at as many circuits as we can – and that involves when you change the behaviour the car, it takes a race or two to dial it in."
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