Aston Martin’s first foray into Formula One was a short-lived venture, lasting only five races. This time, however, the team means business. Having already achieved success as Jordan and later Racing Point in 2020, Aston Martin are determined to make their mark on the sport with two-time champion driver Sebastian Vettel at the wheel.Â
The team has a reputation for punching above their weight, making them one to look out for.Â
With all this ambition, it’s only natural to wonder what engine Aston Martin is using in F1. After all, the engine is one of the most important components of a Formula One car. In this article, we’ll take a look at what engine Aston Martin is using in F1 and whether they’re making their own or partnering with another manufacturer.
Table of Contents
Watch this video to learn more about Aston Martin engine.
What engine does Aston Martin use in F1?
The Aston Martin Formula One team is currently powered by Mercedes engines. The British-based outfit has a long history of working with the German marque, however they have employed various other engine manufacturers in the past.
Ever since Aston Martin returned to Formula One in 2021, they have been relying on Mercedes engines. They got their first podium finish with the German engine supplier powering their cars, yet their performance has been hampered by the latest 2022 spec Mercedes engine.
Does Aston Martin make their own F1 engine?
No, Aston Martin currently do not make their own engines for F1. They have a partnership with Mercedes, who supplies the power units used by the team. It is likely that at some point in the future they may explore the option of making their own engines, however this is not yet a reality.
When Aston Martin first entered Formula 1 back in 1959, they built their own engines to power their cars. Unfortunately, the team’s short-lived venture only lasted for seven Grand Prix races. As a result, building their own engines was not the most successful move for them.
Key takeaways
- Aston Martin currently use Mercedes engines to power their F1 cars.
- The team has a long history of working with the German marque, but have also employed other engine manufacturers in the past.
- They got their first podium finish with the current spec Mercedes engine, however their performance has been hampered in 2022.
- Aston Martin do not currently make their own engines for F1, however this may change in the future.
- When Aston Martin first entered Formula 1 back in 1959, they built their own engines to power their cars, but this was unsuccessful due to the short duration of the venture.
Which Formula 1 team uses the same engine?
Apart from Aston Martin, there are other Formula 1 teams that use Mercedes engines. These include the reigning champions, Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team, McLaren and Williams Racing:
Mercedes
Of course, Mercedes F1 team does not run on any other engine but their own. The engines, branded as Mercedes AMG, are turbocharged and hybridized 1.6-liters of power.
Ever since the 2014 start of the hybrid engine era, these have been atop the leaderboard tallying up eight consecutive world championship titles. One can say that other engine suppliers have tried to live up to the benchmark set by these power units.
McLaren
Another team utilizing the Mercedes 1.6 liter turbocharged and hybridized V6 engine is McLaren. Over their tenure in Formula One, they have had different engine suppliers that have included Honda, Renault, Porsche and Ford but with varying results for them. Never having built an F1 engine of their own, the British marque has always been a customer team.Â
Their partnership with Mercedes however has been a dependable and fruitful one and is what they currently use in their cars.
Aston Martin
Another team to have been running on Mercedes’ 1.6 liter turbocharged and hybrid V6 engine is Aston Martin. The British-based outfit has been a customer team of the German marque for many years but, prior to this, they used different engine suppliers in the past.
Williams
Williams is yet another team to be supplied by Mercedes’ 1.6 liter turbocharged and hybrid V6 engine since the 2014 launch of the hybrid era. Despite the German marque’s success, Williams have been struggling financially and on the grid since then, going from consistent podium finishes to a back marker spot in recent years.Â
Nevertheless, when 2019 rolled around, the two teams decided to renew their contract, with Mercedes providing Williams’ engines until 2025.Â
How does Aston Martin engine compare to other F1 engines?
The Mercedes AMG power units used by Aston Martin in Formula One have been on the cutting edge of performance and reliability. Compared to other engine suppliers, they are amongst the most powerful, efficient and reliable due to their hybrid technology. This is why many teams opt for this engine supplier over others.Â
In addition, the power unit has been developed continuously over the years to become lighter and more powerful, while still meeting F1’s stringent regulations. This gives Aston Martin a competitive edge over other teams who are using different engines.
The Mercedes AMG engine used by Aston Martin is also renowned for its great fuel efficiency which helps them to reduce costs and therefore stay competitive. The fact that this engine is used by multiple teams also helps them to keep up with the top teams in the sport, as they can learn from each other’s experiences and successes. This helps to ensure that the engine is as advanced and efficient as possible for all teams using it.Â
However, the year 2022 has not been kind to the Mercedes and it’s customer teams. Mercedes’ reliability has been on the decline, with many teams reporting various engine issues throughout the 2022 season. This has led to a lot of speculation that Aston Martin may need to consider switching engine supplier in the near future.
The Mercedes AMG engine used by Aston Martin is also renowned for its great fuel efficiency which helps them to reduce costs and therefore stay competitive. The fact that this engine is used by multiple teams also helps them to keep up with the top teams in the sport, as they can learn from each other's experiences and successes. This helps to ensure that the engine is as advanced and efficient as possible for all teams using it.
Other F1 engine manufacturers and customers
| F1 engine suppliers | Teams using the engine |
|---|---|
| Ferrari engine | Ferrari Haas Alfa Romeo |
| Mercedes engine | Mercedes McLaren Aston Martin Williams |
| Red Bull engine | Red Bull AlphaTauri |
| Renault engine | Alpine |
Let’s take a look at some of the other Formula 1 teams and their engine suppliers:
Ferrari
Ferrari is one of the oldest and most famous brands in Formula 1, having won numerous championships over the years. The Ferrari engine is designed by a team of experts at Maranello, Italy, and is widely considered to be one of the most powerful and sophisticated engines on the F1 grid. It is used by the following teams:
- Ferrari
- Alfa Romeo
- Haas
Mercedes
Mercedes is another powerhouse in the world of Formula 1, having developed a number of championship-winning engines over the years. The Mercedes engine is designed and manufactured by a team of engineers in Brixworth, UK, and is considered to be one of the most advanced engines on the grid.
The teams that use this engine include:
- MercedesÂ
- McLaren
- Aston Martin
- Williams
Red Bull Powertrains
Bull Powertrains. Although, Red Bull is still using the engines manufactured by Honda and will continue to do so until 2025. After that Red Bull Powertrains is expected to become the team’s primary engine supplier, providing cutting-edge power units that can help them achieve top performance on race days. It will supply engines to these teams:
- Red Bull
- AlphaTauri
Renault
Renault is another popular engine supplier in the F1 world, known for designing and manufacturing powertrains that are both powerful and reliable. Renault engines are currently used by only one team on the grid:
- Alpine
Frequently asked questions
Are Aston Martin making their own engines in F1?
Are Aston Martin F1 engines bad?
Why is Aston Martin F1 engine not as fast as Red Bulls?
Conclusion
Aston Martin is currently using Mercedes AMG engines in their F1 cars. This engine has been reliable and efficient, helping them to stay competitive with other teams on the grid. Although, there has been a performance drop but this could be largely attributed to the ever-changing regulations in the sport. It is yet to be seen if Aston Martin will switch engine suppliers in the near future, or whether they will stick with Mercedes for years to come.
Read more about all F1 engine manufacturers and suppliers.
