Adjusted ambitions: 'To be in the top half at the end of the year'

Sebastian Vettel has been Aston Martin's dream driver since the start of the season, but so far this hasn't resulted in great results. Whereas the team was competing for third place in the World Constructors' Championship last season, this year they have to aim for the top five.

Otmar Szafnauer said at the start of the season that he expected Aston Martin to be fighting for third place again, but practice proved otherwise. Both McLaren and Ferrari are doing well on the track this season, which means Aston Martin has to take a step back for the time being.

The Aston Martin team boss is well aware that it won't be easy to get between Ferrari and McLaren this season. Szafnauer tells in conversation with Motorsport-Total.com: "We will fight hard in the midfield to see how high we can get. We would like to be in the top half at the end of the year."

For that, the team also needs good performances from Vettel and Lance Stroll. The German finished fifth in Monaco, while Stroll finished eighth. "We have to fight hard to get out of that. But we are also all realistic that this is the end of these rules," Szafnauer was referring to the rule change in 2022.