Aston Martin launched its brand-new 2022 car on Thursday, becoming the first team to show off its proper car for the season, and not just and FIA model. The new machine has already hit the track, with both Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel already getting a feel for their new equipment.

Speaking to selected media – including MotorLAT – after the car launch, the team’s CTO Andrew Green explained some of the thought process behind the new car, and how the regulation change for this season is unlike anything he’d seen during his time in Formula 1:

"The 2022 regulations are like no other that have gone before: a radical change of direction in both concept and application, probably the most significant change of chassis regulations ever implemented, with an incredibly small amount of carry-over from 2021 into 2022. As a direct result of that, the past winter has undoubtedly been the toughest we have ever had. But with new regulations come new challenges and new opportunities.

"No one has all the answers to maximising the new regulations, so it is all about avoiding development cul-de-sacs, and that was the key message to our design team. It is a huge challenge, but everyone has risen to the task, and we are motivated to solve the many questions that have and continue to arise during the development process. All that while operating under the new cost cap regulations and more restrictive aerodynamic development restrictions.

"The AMR22 we see is our 'first' iteration under these new regulations. It will evolve dramatically over the coming months as we run the cars for real and begin to understand the challenges involved. That will, in turn, forge the direction for 2023 and beyond.”

Back in our natural habitat. 💚#AMR22 #WeClimbTogether pic.twitter.com/j0np5zftn5

— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) February 11, 2022

When asked by MotorLAT about the team’s ability to develop the car with the budget cap in place and the added investment of owner Lawrence Stroll, Green expressed how money will not be a problem for the Silverstone squad, unlike past seasons when they were Force India/Racing Point, but resources available might hurt the squad still:

“I hope now with the cost cap in place, we’ll be able to bring upgrades at least as frequently as Mercedes and Red Bull. We’re still working our way across the cost cap, that’s for sure. We’re not really cash limited. Where we are limited, is in the resources we have, the tools we have at our disposal, to develop the car and to make good decisions on developing the car.

“That’s really where we’re hindered slightly. We’re working towards improving that in the coming years. I don’t think the finances are gonna stop us upgrading. I think it’s just our ability to come up with good ideas, and develop those good ideas, before putting them on the car.

“I think you will see a lot of development on this car over the course of the season, a lot.“

Green also explained some of the biggest development challenges in the process of building the AMR22, and how there’s not one single factor that he can point the finger on, but the whole package:

“The development challenges were wide and varied, over the course of the last 12 months. Probably the most challenging aspect was that there were so many challenging aspects. And you’re trying to juggle so much to change, and place the resources where we believed to be the right place – being able to get the maximum out of that area where we think the performance is gonna emanate from – was, by far, the trickiest part of developing the car.

“Because every area needed to be re-developed - whether it was chassis strength, or a new suspension, or the overall aerodynamics – everything had to be re-done. The challenge was allocating enough resources to each area, to get the job done, trying to maximise the performance overall.

“The challenges that we just had over the last 12 months are probably gonna be insignificant compared to the challenges that are ahead of us.”

Another important change for 2022 is the introduction of all-new 18-inch Pirelli tyres, which, according to Green, are a “massive unknown” for the teams, citing how a good driver pairing will pay dividends this year regarding the tyres:

“We have a really strong driver line-up. I’m really pleased that we’ll be taking a driver like that with us across such a massive rule change, because I think that stability is really important.

“In (Sebastian Vettel), we have a super talented, super experienced driver, who’s helped us in many ways – on and off the track. His experience is gonna be really useful.

Inspector Seb returns… 🔍 #AMR22 #WeClimbTogether pic.twitter.com/I7JWKTpIkn

— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) February 12, 2022

“On the other hand, we have Lance (Stroll) – he’s a 100 GP’s in, super talented, super fast – he’s gaining wisdom and experience within every race. And both of them work really well with the engineering department.

“That’s key. They work really well together but also work really well with the engineering department. We’re gonna have to pull together in that area, because again, there is so much to learn with the new car. Every aspect of it is new, aerodynamics and especially the tyres – tyres are gonna be a massive unknown, for everybody – no one really knows what’s gonna happen with the tyres when we start running.

“As much as we’ve done some testing pre-season, having tested them in all the in-season testing last year, nobody has run these tyres on a ground effect car. That’s gonna be a real challenge and I think it’s where a good driver is gonna reward.”