Ford v Ferrari had it all: a story ready-made to be a movie blockbuster. We haven’t seen the potential for such front-page intrigue between two global car manufacturers in Formula 1 for decades (maybe wider international motorsport too? Let me know the comments below…).
But I reckon 2021 could well be a new movie in the making.
In the red corner, there’s Ferrari, the world’s most famous F1 team, which has suffered a dreadful 2020. It’s paid the price for exploiting an undisclosed technical loophole, and team boss Mattia Binotto says “at least third” in the Constructors’ Championship is the goal.
In the green corner, there’s Aston Martin, the newly-rebranded Racing Point team, that’s traditionally been a giant-killer. Last year, it copied the 2019 Mercedes-AMG F1 racer, creating the third-fastest car. And finished fourth.
Aston Martin has had a desperate couple of years and is entering F1 to fast-track its rise into a true global luxury superbrand. Of which, Ferrari is one of the very best of all.
Ferrari is in F1 because, well, neither would be the same without the other. And F1 is one of the best global advertisements of all.
Both are now set to take on each other not only in the world’s showrooms, but on the racetrack as well. And there’s a fair bit of baggage to add spice to the story…
Take Sebastien Vettel, Aston Martin’s new lead driver. Ferrari dispensed with his services before the 2020 season had even started. Arguably, his performances during the year validated this, but they also may have been the result of the decision.
He will go into the 2021 season determined to prove why he’s a four-time World Champion, and prove his old team wrong.
The fact Racing Point / Aston Martin also elbowed out a star driver – who won for it last year – adds an extra subplot to the story (all good movies need ’em): he’s now driving for the second-fastest team, Red Bull… the team Aston Martin was title sponsor for last year, until deciding to go it alone. He’ll be determined to prove his old team wrong.
Ferrari suffered slings and arrows all season long, and it’s something the team is not accustomed to. It wants to restore its position at the front end of the grid, and may already be assuming it’s got the measure of Aston Martin. The Silverstone team will be determined to prove it wrong.
Oh, and Ferrari is also hard at work on its first-ever SUV, a model to belatedly take on the Aston Martin DBX – and Aston’s upmarket off-roader will be taking to the track in 2021 as pace car in a shared arrangement with Mercedes-AMG.
Cue shots of a red Ferrari lining up behind a silver Aston Martin, perhaps with a green Aston Martin harrying it from behind if the director wants to be particularly pointed.
Both Aston Martin and Ferrari want the same thing in Formula 1 this year. And may well trip over themselves in getting it.
The story already has plenty going for it, and that’s even before we start to consider F1’s new 2022 rules, that could fast-track both of them to the front of the grid for a genuine front-running battle.
I can’t wait…
ALSO READ
F1 to test biofuel in carbon neutral push
Terribly written article, case in point;
World Champion, and prove his old team wrong.
He’ll be determined to prove his old team wrong.
The Silverstone team will be determined to prove it wrong.
Jesus, how many things need to be proved wrong in three paragraphs. I’m genuinely shocked that this was written by a ‘journalist’
Thanks Chuck. The repetition was intentional, to stress the fact there are a quite a few tantalising aspects at play.