For as long as I can remember, I cannot recall a time when a Formula 1 team held such a grand press conference to welcome a new technical chief.
As I drove to Aston Martin’s brand new factory at Silverstone, the mind wandered to how Real Madrid typically welcomes its latest Galacticos with fanfare. The player, usually a new world-record signing, is habitually unveiled on the pitch at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in front of the fans dressed in full kit.
This announcement of Adrian Newey as Aston Martin’s new “Managing Technical Partner” had all the hallmarks of a similar showpiece. And I have to say I was a little disappointed that Newey was not given a ball to perform some keepy-uppies on manicured lawn in front of the main reception.
Joking aside, this was more than just a press conference. This was a live televised event, designed for maximum impact.
The media were ushered into position some 20 minutes before the 11am kick off. Taking our white, frilly seats either side of an aisle, with those places at the front reserved for dignitaries of the Aston family, there was a distinct feeling this was more like a wedding than a press conference.
On one side of the aisle sat the old team of Martin Whitmarsh, the outgoing CEO of Aston’s Performance and Technologies. His replacement Andy Cowell, who starts his role next month, sat on the other, along with the team’s drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll as well as Newey’s wife, Amanda.
The turnout for the press conference counted all of Aston’s star names
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
There was no wedding car. Instead, the team’s majority owner and executive chairman Lawrence Stroll arrived by helicopter, which parked on the aforementioned lawn. He was collected by a white golf kart that whisked him into building.
When he was called to the stage, he entered the room and high-fived one of the guests. Dressed in a navy and white pinstripe suit, he walked in to some loud music and perched himself onto the seat on stage, looking slightly uncomfortable, suit jacket still done up tight.
He spoke to confirm the news, interestingly calling Newey a shareholder before revealing his full title of technical partner. He added that Newey’s arrival was the “most exciting news in Aston Martin’s history and most exciting in F1”.
Newey was welcomed on stage and the two were asked where they had first met to discuss the idea of the 65-year-old arriving from Red…
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