The Aston Martin name is back in Grand Prix racing for the first time in six decades. The Aston Martin Formula One Team will make its race debut in Melbourne, Australia, on 21 March 2021, marking a return to top-flight single-seater competition for the Gaydon-based luxury car maker.

Aston Martin had been involved in Formula One (F1) as the title sponsor of Red Bull Racing but will now take this to new heights as it joins the F1 elite as a manufacturer.

Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin Lagonda executive chairman said: “F1 is a hugely powerful platform that will play a key part in the overall Aston Martin strategy as we seek to take the company forward. It is a truly global sport with a huge audience that we believe can help reignite the brand and further increase its desirability all over the world.

“This is a brand that has already had huge success in top-level international motorsport such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans – and now we have an opportunity to write a new page in the history books. That is a hugely exciting prospect for anyone who is a lover of the Aston Martin brand, for fans of F11 and the sport itself.”

In February, the team which includes four-time F1 world champion, Sebastian Vettel and multiple Grand Prix podium finisher, Lance Stroll will reveal its 2021 F1 car and livery.

Otmar Szafnauer, CEO and team principal, said: “We have had almost a year of preparation to reach this point and we are really looking forward to seeing the reaction when we finally unveil our new identity as the Aston Martin Formula One Team.

“Representing such an iconic brand is a huge privilege for every member of the team. We have earned a well-deserved reputation for punching above our weight, so we are confident we can do the Aston Martin name proud right from the start.

“It is the start of a new journey and I can sense an extra energy in the team, with a determination to push performance further than ever before. Combined with some of the most creative minds in the business, a true racers’ mentality and the can-do spirit that has served us so well through the years, we have every reason to be excited about the future”.