Aston Martin F1 Team is dealing with a difficult start to the season, but according to former race strategy head Bernie Collins, changing leadership may not be the solution the team needs right now.
The Silverstone-based outfit has struggled on multiple fronts, with performance issues going beyond just results on track.
Aston Martin’s Early-season struggles
Because of significant vibration from Aston Martin’s new Honda engine, which raised questions about a driver’s comfort and safety, Aston Martin has been subject to considerable scrutiny.
The last two events have not only shown poor performance from both cars, i.e., finished on the last two rows in qualifying at both the Chinese and Japanese Grand Prix, but also highlighted another problem: both drivers are not only failing to be competitive, but are also having serious difficulties with the overall reliability of the car.
Amid these struggles, attention has turned to potential changes at the top.
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Adrian Newey is currently serving as team principal, but speculation has grown following Jonathan Wheatley’s sudden exit from Audi.
Reports have linked Wheatley’s exit with a possible move to Aston Martin in a leadership role, which could see Newey focus more on technical responsibilities.
Bernie Collins On Leadership Changes
Bernie Collins acknowledged the speculation but made it clear that nothing is confirmed.
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She said: “He is a name that’s been thrown around alongside that Aston Martin team, and potentially a fit, everyone is denying all rumours at this stage, as they always will.”
She continued, “We don’t know the reason that he left Audi, as it was, but that’s quite early in the season in a new team.”
Rather than backing a leadership overhaul, Bernie Collins pointed to a different issue, instability at the top.
Aston Martin has already seen multiple leadership changes in recent years, with Otmar Szafnauer, Mike Krack and Andy Cowell all having held senior roles.
So, according to Collins, another change could do more harm than good at this stage.
“For Aston Martin’s side, there have been a lot of changes at the top over the last few years, and that’s not the best way to get on top of the issues that they’re having with Honda,” she stated.
“They need a bit of stability. They need clear direction on what they’re going to improve and how, where they’re going to spend their money in order to progress the car forward. What’s going to be the overriding [factor], the engine development or chassis development? Where is it going to go?”
“So they need some clear direction on that. Regardless of who it is, I’m not necessarily sure that changing the people at the top is good for stability at this stage.”
So, with this, Bernie Collins has dismissed all the Aston Martin leadership changing speculations for now.
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