Whitmarsh set to make Aston Martin F1 debut at United States GP

Aston Martin announced Whitmarsh as Group Chief Executive Officer of its new performance technologies division in September. 

He will be responsible for “encompassing the brand’s F1 activities and will also develop, apply and take to market the Group’s technical capabilities and intellectual property, with the aim of providing best-in-class innovation, engineering, testing and manufacturing services across a variety of key industry sectors.”

This will be Whitmarsh’s first role in F1 since leaving McLaren in 2014.

“Martin arrived on Friday [October 1] so it’s only been a couple of days that he’s been there before I left to come here,” Szafnauer said at the Turkish Grand Prix. “He’s getting to know the team and some of the other strategic things that he was hired to do, as we’re marching our way down getting those things done. 

“There’s a lot happening at the team and we welcome Martin. He can help with his experience. We’re building a new factory now, we’re building a new wind tunnel, for example, and there’s a lot happening back at base, even when we’re out racing, so it’s nice to have his experience.”

Szafnauer expects Whitmarsh to attend the United States Grand Prix and one other in 2021.

“He’s group CEO which by mere definition means you have a bigger role and a wider role. He will be coming to some races. I think he’ll be coming to Austin and then perhaps one more race this year and then a few next year.”