Aston Martin's new team boss, Andy Cowell, may have found the solution to the team's ongoing struggles with in-season car development, according to Jefferson Slack, the team's commercial boss.
Despite significant investments, the Lawrence Stroll-owned team has faced stagnation in car progress since early 2023. However, with Cowell now at the helm, replacing Mike Krack as team boss, the team is optimistic about overcoming these issues.
Krack, meanwhile, has transitioned to the role of 'chief trackside officer.'
Slack, whose career includes earlier managing Michael Jordan's marketing and working in European football, admitted he's not a technical expert but has been impressed by Cowell's leadership.
"I'm not a Formula 1 guy, and I'm certainly not a technical person," Slack told DAZN.
"So I didn't meet Andy until a few months ago, but I can tell you that I'm hugely impressed.
He has the technical knowledge, he has the human element, he has the leadership, he is decisive, but he is also very fair and I think that is absolutely fundamental for our future."
One of Cowell's key decisions has been assigning Enrico Cardile, formerly of Ferrari, to lead car development from Aston Martin's Silverstone factory.
"I think the changes that he made weren't just spur-of-the-moment changes," Slack said.
"They were made after studying what would make us a more efficient team. It's not my area, but what I understand is that we haven't been very good at developing the car in the last few seasons."
Slack explained that one of the challenges has been the dual responsibility placed on personnel traveling to 24 races while also working on car development.
"Part of that could be the fact that the people who were travelling to 24 races were technically, in theory, also responsible for the development of the car, and that's really difficult to do," he added. "And I think other teams are structured the way Andy has moved in."
Slack continued: "How do you get a group of people that are on this amazing campus that we have to focus on long-term car development, while they are also going to 24 races? How can they then deal with everything else on the track?
"I think that makes a lot of sense, but Andy didn't just wing it when he started. He took the time to figure it out, and I think that's been the natural evolution of the business as we've grown as a team."
