Ted Kravitz admits new signing ‘cannot start soon enough’ at Aston Martin after poor Monza weekend

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Aston Martin have had an underwhelming 2024 Formula 1 season but the Italian Grand Prix may end up being the frustrating race of the year for Lawrence Stroll’s team.

Neither Fernando Alonso nor Lance Stroll were able to reach Q3 on Saturday and had work to do during Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Stroll attempted a confusing strategy, pitting late compared to his rivals at the end of his first stint but still managing to be the only driver to change his tyres three times, finishing the race dead last.

Oscar Piastri was fuming with Stroll at the end of the race as he lost time trying to catch Charles Leclerc while lapping the Canadian.

Alonso once again extracted every ounce of speed out of his Aston Martin but missed out on scoring a point by the barest of margins.

Kevin Magnussen ahead of him had nailed a one-stop strategy but had also picked up a ten-second time penalty for a collision with Pierre Gasly.

Magnussen will be banned for the race in Baku even though Alonso defended him, but held on to secure 10^th by less than 0.2 seconds.

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso’s life outside F1 from net worth to Cars 2

Speaking on Ted’s Notebook after the race, Ted Kravitz explained what went for the team during the Italian Grand Prix.

Aston Martin are investing heavily off the track having built a state-of-the-art factory and are hiring some of the best staff around to help the team.

Adrian Newey looks set to join Aston Martin which is an incredible coup, however, Kravitz believes that the impact of Andy Cowell is also going to be vital.

Ted Kravitz says Andy Cowell can’t start soon enough at Aston Martin

Reviewing Aston Martin’s race weekend, Kravitz said: “Fernando, Aston, you’ve missed a point by 0.193 of a second and you’ve allowed Magnussen in.

“Alonso was up one off the start to P10, Lance Stroll dropped down to P18, he made his up to P15 and Alonso pulled an undercut attempt and pitted first of the midfield runners.

“He two-stopped, Lance was a hard tyre starter, he actually made another stop onto the soft, so he three-stopped for a fastest lap attempt which didn’t come off and all that guaranteed was that Lance Stroll finished last.

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

“So, not a happy day and Andy Cowell cannot start soon enough with this team to try and claw them up the grid.”

Why could Andy Cowell be so important to Aston Martin’s future success?

Andy Cowell will start work at Aston Martin at the beginning of October as the Group CEO, taking over from Martin Whitmarsh.

Cowell previously worked for BMW Motorsport but his work in Mercedes’s engine department is why he’s so heralded.

He was managing director of the Mercedes HPP division that built the power unit that helped the team win all of their Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships between 2014 and 2021.

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

Aston Martin are said to have beaten the rest of the grid to hiring Cowell, alongside fellow high-profile additions such as Enrico Cardile and Dan Fallows.

Newey will take all the headlines if and when he’s confirmed but if Aston Martin suddenly come into title contention, Cowell will also play a key role.

Lawrence Stroll certainly thinks so after admitting he thinks Cowell could help the team win world championships once he’s bedded in at their Silverstone base.