Aston Martin hint at "chance of at least podiums" upon return in F1

After being confirmed as a constructor on the 2021 Formula 1 grid following a takeover by Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer hinted he wants his team to be challenging to "have a chance of at least podiums".

It was announced this morning a consortium led by Stroll, father of Racing Point driver Lance Stroll, bought a 16.7% stake in Aston Martin, alongside a massive investment in the company which totals to around £500 million.

Aston Martin, of course, are still the title sponsors of Red Bull Racing and will be until the end of this season. Next year, they'll now become a works team, producing their own engines as well.

Palmer, who will remain Aston Martin CEO after the takeover but will have Stroll as a chairman now, expressed both his and the Canadian's ambition to kick on in 2021.

“It gives us a challenge and, if you talk to Mr Stroll, then you’ll quickly learn he isn’t in the paddock to just turn up," he said in his interview with Autocar.

"He is investing in the team to win, and we wouldn’t want to be involved with a team that didn’t have a chance of at least podiums.”

This is ambitious to say the least, especially if they want to do it with their own engines. Typically, it takes several years for any constructor or engine partner to develop to a point of challenging at the top of the grid. Will Stroll's serious investments start paying off in 2021, or will the Canadian have to be more patient?