London: British manufacturer Aston Martin on Thursday unveiled the car that they hope will propel them further up Formula 1's pecking order in 2022 season.
The team launched their new challenger, the AMR22, at Aston Martin's Gaydon base, with both Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll present to reveal a classic, but updated, racing green livery on a new-look 2022 car.
The AMR22 features a curvy aerodynamic design required by revolutionary new rules making their debut this year. The livery has also been updated, with lime detailing blended with what the team described as a "refined version of the traditional green livery".
Aston Martin are the third team to kick-off their season with a launch but their car is believed to be the closest so far to being the finished product. They will also complete a shakedown at Silverstone on Friday, giving fans a first glimpse of F1's new cars, which have been built to the technical regulations aimed at improving wheel-to-wheel racing and overtaking.
After finishing a disappointing seventh last year, their first season back in F1 following a 60-year absence, Aston Martin will be desperate for their AMR22 to compete further towards the front.
Vettel, the four-time world champion, will once again be partnered with Stroll, whose father Lawrence owns the team.
But Aston Martin have undergone big changes behind the scenes over the winter, with long-serving team boss Otmar Szafnauer having left, replaced by former BMW and Porsche man Mike Krack.
"We are continuing our journey to the summit of Formula 1. And we want to win. But we know that winning isn't easy, and that's why we have a five-year plan to keep climbing and to get to the top," team owner Lawrence Stroll was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
Meanwhile, Vettel said he is also excited about the prospect of racing the new car, adding that the main thing is to keep moving forward.
"Look at that car, who wouldn't feel excited about the prospect of racing that? And when it comes to hopes for the season, I do not think anyone really knows what to expect," he said.
"There are new rules and of course all the teams will be hoping that they have got it right. Everyone wants to win, me included, and no one would be in Formula 1 if their dream was not to win. I am no different.
"The main thing is to keep moving forward and moving up. This is only year two of a five-year plan, so we are still quite near the start. But this team has big ambitions and big plans, and I am hugely excited to be a part of that," he added.