Andy Cowell: It's time to get back to fighting

      Former Mercedes chief engine driver Andy Cowell took over the Aston Martin team in January and will lead it forward with Adrian Newey. In an interview with the team's press service, he spoke about the tasks for the new season.…

      Q: Are you happy that the new season starts this week?Andy Cowell: Sure. Everyone is happy to be in Australia and feel the adrenaline rush of the first race of the season. We are looking forward to racing with AMR25, because we are racers, our whole life is a struggle.

      During the winter, we worked to make the car more manageable and stable. The test data and the comments from Lance and Fernando show that we have made a step forward, but now we need to confirm this progress in the first Grand Prix.

      We still need to improve in many areas. In Formula 1, you are constantly learning, so the data you receive during the race weekend will be invaluable in refining the car.

      Q: Will the information gathered during the tests affect our approach in Melbourne?Andy Cowell: We did a lot of testing in Bahrain, evaluating different aerodynamic body kit options and settings, which helped us decide how to proceed in Melbourne. This will also help in determining the direction of AMR25 development.

      Last year we started the season well, but during the season we fell behind the leaders, although we prepared the most novelties. We hope that everything will be better in 2025.

      Question: The greatest technical mind in the history of sports, Adrian Newey, has officially started working as a managing technical partner. What were his first days on the team like?Andy Cowell: Adrian's arrival has aroused great interest, but he doesn't like lavish ceremonies. He walked into his office at the tech campus, put down his briefcase, and almost immediately found himself at a concept meeting discussing one of the areas of the machine.

      He immediately joined the team. I quickly got to know all the managers and immersed myself in working with the engineers, carefully listening to what people were saying about the work they had done. He asks questions, expresses his opinion and brings a fresh perspective. We are very glad that we have it.

      Question: Everyone is expecting an incredibly tight fight this year. How do you assess the competition in our sport, what opportunities does it give the team?Andy Cowell: This is the last year of the current regulations, there have been no recent changes, and when there is such stability in Formula 1, the characteristics of the cars naturally converge.

      At the end of last year, the results were very tight, judging by the tests, this season we will have an exceptionally tight fight from the very beginning.

      It is likely that in the qualifications, only 10 milliseconds will determine who will make it to the next part and who will not. With such dense results, every little thing matters. Preparing the tires, switching from one set to another, finding free space on the track so that the riders do not interfere with each other – everything should be perfect.

      These 10 milliseconds will affect the course of the race, from success to disappointment. Even with DRS, it can be difficult to overtake, so every position gained in qualifying is of great importance.

      Our task is to find the optimal settings already in the first training session and improve them right up to the qualification. Then, under pressure, to win back a few places due to perfect performance, and not give this chance to rivals.

      Question: This weekend you will be acting as a team leader for the first time. What will be your job on the track?Andy Cowell: I support the team and make sure that we achieve maximum results every race weekend. In this sport, the main thing is to earn the maximum possible points in each Grand Prix.

      The two races I attended last year, as well as the pre-season tests in Bahrain, showed me that we have a great team of people working brilliantly together. I look forward to seeing this over the coming weekend and throughout the season.

      There are several new people in the team, some are taking up new positions, but in Bahrain they have settled in and know what to do. My task is to provide everyone with the necessary tools for their work.

      Q: In addition to Lance and Fernando, your reserve driver Jack Crawford is competing in Formula 2 this weekend. How closely will you follow his progress this year?Andy Cowell: I will follow his performances with interest. Jack is a very capable racer. We only saw each other a couple of times last year, and now we'll see each other more often. We will help and provide any support throughout his campaign, which I hope will be successful for him.

      Q: The Australian Grand Prix is one of the most popular events on the calendar. Are you looking forward to it with special impatience?Andy Cowell: I've been to Melbourne many times, and I have fond memories of the city and the track. Albert Park is an amazing place to host the Grand Prix. Everyone in the team made every effort to ensure that we arrived at the first Grand Prix in good shape. It's time to get back to fighting.