Aston Martin has continued its recruitment in Formula 1 by confirming the signing of Mercedes’ Chief Aerodynamicist Eric Blandin.
Blandin has had a lengthy Formula 1 career with Jaguar/Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes, spending the last decade with the current World Champions.
Aston Martin confirmed Blandin’s acquisition on Wednesday and outlined that he is due to start working for the team next year.
It outlined that Blandin’s transition from Mercedes will be “amicable”, but did not publicly confirm the exact role Blandin will hold.
Aston Martin has a long-term relationship with Mercedes, which supplies the team with power units and gearboxes.
Aston Martin has regularly outlined its long-term ambition of moving up the grid to eventually compete for the Formula 1 title.
Under Lawrence Stroll, who acquired the outfit mid-2018, it has recruited heavily and invested in both personnel and infrastructure.
Martin Whitmarsh recently joined as CEO while Dan Fallows and Luca Furbatto have been recruited from Red Bull Racing and Alfa Romeo respectively and will join once their current contracts allow.
Construction is underway on a new factory on land acquired around its current base at Silverstone, with the new facilities set to include a state-of-the art windtunnel and simulator.
The new three-part unit has a current completion date of late 2022/early 2023.
Why doesn’t Mr Stroll just take over Mercedes and be done with it or is he waiting for diesel gate to put them into liquidation?