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Formula One: Aston Martin preparing engines for 2021?

By Alex Herbst

WARWICK, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Aston Martin cars are illuminated for final inspection at the company's manufacturing site during a visit by Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn on November 16, 2017 in Warwick, England. Jeremy Corbyn toured the manufacturing site of Aston Martin where he held meetings with senior management and talked to workers on the production line. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
WARWICK, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Aston Martin cars are illuminated for final inspection at the company's manufacturing site during a visit by Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn on November 16, 2017 in Warwick, England. Jeremy Corbyn toured the manufacturing site of Aston Martin where he held meetings with senior management and talked to workers on the production line. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) /
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Aston Martin appears to be taking the next steps necessary to supply engines to Formula One in 2021, possibly for multiple teams.

The Formula One world championship is going through an era of change, one that will likely expand through the beginning of the next decade. With a new engine formula set to come into play in 2021, some manufacturers are not happy with the changes, including Ferrari and Mercedes. However, new OEMs could be on their way into the sport with new regulations, including Aston Martin.

As reported by Motorsport.com, the British marque is keenly interested in supplying engines for 2021 and beyond. The brand currently serves as title sponsor of Red Bull Racing, and could in theory become their new engine partner in the next decade. Beyond Red Bull, Aston Martin could support multiple teams with their effort per reports. This could include Scuderia Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s junior team, and perhaps McLaren.

The effort for Aston Martin is being led by former Ferrari F1 chief of engine development Joerg Ross and Luca Marmorini. Any move by Red Bull for further involvement with the British car manufacturer would likely come at the expense of Honda, who just signed on to provide engines to Toro Rosso beginning in 2018. It could also lead to replacing Renault as engine partner with Red Bull Racing before the 2021 regulations change.

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Aston Martin president and CEO Andy Palmer had this to say about the marque’s future in Formula One, according to Motorsport.com.

"With all of this stuff in F1, you have to factor in intangibles because you’re talking about a marketing return, not necessarily a physical return.Marketing return hopefully turns into sold cars, which is why we’re doing this. This is to seed the soil for when we bring a mid-engined car to compete with the Ferrari 488, which is what the Valkyrie [hypercar] was about.It’s about creating credibility ready for when we go mainstream face-to-face with Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren on the road. The timing of the 2021 regulations work really well, because it is about the time we’ll be bringing that car out."

Of course, Aston Martin may not be the only manufacturer looking to get involved with the new regulations on the horizon. Alfa Romeo is taking a more prominent role in 2018 with the Sauber F1 Team, while Porsche could still be evaluating a return to the world championship. However, it could also be a case of more interest than space on the F1 grid, with many teams already tied closely with Ferrari and Mercedes.

Next: Who is the greatest Formula One driver of all-time?

Would you like to see Aston Martin join the Formula One grid in a more prominent role? Should they start supplying teams with engines in 2021? Who would be a good fit for them?

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