Lawrence Stroll explains what’s ‘missing’ at Aston Martin to become a top team despite signing Adrian Newey

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There are currently four teams fighting for race wins every weekend but Lawrence Stroll is doing everything he can to add a fifth manufacturer to that list.

Seven drivers have won a Grand Prix in 2024 with only Sergio Perez from the top four teams yet to stand on the top step of the podium.

Aston Martin are fifth in the Constructors’ Championship but a long way off – both in terms of points and speed – from their rivals above them.

However, team owner Lawrence Stroll is hoping to change that by making some exciting signings.

Although the driver line-up of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are contracted for the next two years at least, there’s plenty of change going on behind them in the garage and on the pit wall.

The likes of Enrico Cardile, Andy Cowell and Bob Bell will be working alongside Adrian Newey next year to try and make Aston Martin championship contenders.

However, Stroll isn’t done yet and during Newey’s announcement, as streamed by F1, he shared what’s still missing.

Aston Martin have built a brand-new facility at their Silverstone base but it isn’t fully operational yet.

READ MORE: Aston Martin’s new factory described as the ‘most modern’ in the sport

Stroll has admitted that until the new wind tunnel is fully operational, Aston Martin will still be missing something that will make them a top team.

Newey will know from his time at Red Bull and their recent developments how important an accurate wind tunnel is.

Lawrence Stroll says Aston Martin still ‘missing’ wind tunnel that would make them a top F1 team

Asked about the next steps for the team, Stroll said: “Our energy is focused in a couple of places.

“So, as I say, we just really finished moving into this building last week.

“Building three which houses our wind tunnel will be operational at the end of this year or certainly the very, very early part of next year.

This is something we’re missing in order to perform at the top.

“We had a slight distraction moving into this building. We had a very strong start to 2023, as you know the first nine races were great.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage

“Then these ground effect cars are rather complex and obviously we went in a different or clearly appears now a wrong direction.

“We’re trying to find our way back, we’re currently fifth in the championship. In all honesty, for a team like us, just moving into this building, with not having all our tools in place, without having a true big technical leader as Adrian is, I would like to be in a better space don’t get me wrong, but our focus really lies on doing a better car for 2025.

“But really, most importantly, we’ll be focusing most of our energy next year on 2026.”

David Coulthard makes 2025 Fernando Alonso prediction after Adrian Newey signing

Expectations will be very high at Aston Martin now and while next season may come too soon for the team to challenge at the front of the grid, the 2026 season will be fascinating.

A new ruleset will be introduced and all of Aston Martin’s key signings – alongside their new wind tunnel – will be fully operational.

David Coulthard has boldly claimed that Fernando Alonso may not need to wait until then to challenge the likes of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.

The 43-year-old has had to wait more than a decade to win a Formula 1 race but may sense he’s closer than ever to finally achieving that feat again.