The Silverstone team is in the final stages of developing the new facility and believes these will be significant “game-changers” for the near future. After the opening of Aston Martin’s new headquarters, it’s now time to launch the new wind tunnel and simulator, with Mike Krack emphasizing their importance.
Lawrence Stroll’s team is not having a great season, with misguided upgrades and drivers not entirely happy with the performance. After an extremely encouraging performance from Alonso in 2023, 2024 has marked a major setback.
The team’s hopes are therefore pinned on the development of these new infrastructures, which will soon be operational. The wind tunnel is already functioning, with initial calibration tests underway, a highly delicate process. This operation is especially crucial for Aston Martin, as they aim to avoid repeating this year’s mistakes. It is even more critical in light of 2026, since from January 1, 2025, all teams will be allowed to start developing the first models of the next generation of single-seaters.
“Having our own on-site wind tunnel brings things to another level, especially since this tunnel will be the most technically advanced and set a new benchmark,” commented Aston Martin TP Mike Krack on the upcoming operation of the new wind tunnel.
“At the moment, we must conduct wind tunnel tests one after the other. If we have a model failure or a reliability issue, we lose the test. The aerodynamic testing restrictions under which F1 operates make these tests a limited and very valuable resource.”
“Having our own tunnel will reduce operational stress but also allow our aerodynamics team to be more creative. Everything will be so close: the model shop is right next to the tunnel. We can stop a run, wait an hour or two while new parts are produced, and restart.”
When will the wind tunnel and simulator start yielding benefits?
“Like any new tool, it has to be learned to be used correctly. It’s not a matter of turning it on and immediately getting better results or higher fidelity. The first goal is to replicate the consistency and quality we achieve with our current tunnel. The aim is to achieve at least that level of quality.” Mike Krack refers to the Mercedes wind tunnel in Brackley, where the team has developed the latest AMR models.
The simulator also required a huge commitment, with a dedicated team pouring all its expertise into making it the best in its class. As with the wind tunnel, I speak with everyone to improve my understanding, and the simulator is simply fantastic. It will enhance our fidelity, improve the entire driver feedback cycle. I saw a demo, and I was absolutely blown away. It felt like being in Star Wars.
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