Ben Michell, Aston Martin\u2019s head of performance optimisation, connected Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll in their approach to data.<\/p>\n
Delving into figures, charts and graphs is a vital tool for improving performance in Formula 1, though how much of it a driver wants to see ebbs and flows with the situation, Michell explains. But, when it comes to current Aston Martin pair Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll<\/a>, as well as former driver Sebastian Vettel, they all like to get \u201cburied in the data\u201d.<\/p>\n Lance Stroll crunches the numbers like Alonso and Vettel<\/p>\n Michell has been part of the Silverstone-based team since its Racing Point days. His journey saw him work as a performance engineer for four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel, before transitioning to race engineer for Lance Stroll.<\/p>\n That was a role he held from 2021-24, before becoming Aston Martin\u2019s head of performance optimisation.<\/p>\n In an interview with the Formula 1 website, Michell offered an insight into the relationship between driver and engineer. One of the key things to learn is when to fire the data up, and when to take a step back.<\/p>\n Fortunately for Aston Martin, Alonso and Stroll have no issues getting stuck in. The same was true for Vettel.<\/p>\n Michell said: \u201cI\u2019ve had situations where I\u2019ve walked into the office and Fernando\u2019s sat there with his laptop and tapping his watch going \u2018where are you guys?\u2019 and we\u2019ve been on curfew!<\/p>\n \u201cSebastian Vettel was the same, Lance too, they\u2019ll be there buried in the data. Sometimes for them that\u2019s really valuable and gives them an insight and helps them. Sometimes it can just add noise that doesn\u2019t allow them to drive as freely as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat you have to understand \u2013 and that\u2019s part of the role of being a race engineer \u2013 is whether your driver is in a place to be receptive to that information, or do they just need to keep it very simple, and be able to just have a clearer focus to get the most out of the car?<\/p>\n \u201cIf there\u2019s particular challenges there might be a driver who says \u2018don\u2019t give me more info, just let me drive the car, and we\u2019ll get there\u2019. You get a feel for their mood depending on their body language and how they say hello in the morning.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s one of the key things you learn. Maybe today isn\u2019t the day to show him loads of aero plots, today\u2019s the day to just go, \u2018right, we\u2019ll go out, get a good gap on track and let you express yourself.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cAnd there\u2019s days where that\u2019s the right approach, and then there\u2019s days where you need to go into the detail more, and you have to learn that \u2013 you don\u2019t always get it right, the same as in any relationship, some days you overstep but you talk about it and you learn from that.\u201d<\/p>\n Aston Martin went into the F1 2025 summer break riding a major wave of momentum. Points have been scored in five of their last six grands prix, while Hungary was the strongest\u00a0 performance of the season for the squad.<\/p>\n Alonso and Stroll were both in the thick of the Q3 action, becoming a dark horse for pole position. Alonso raced on to fifth, with Stroll seventh. That lifted Aston Martin to sixth in the Constructors\u2019 Championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n It is important momentum which Aston Martin will look to maintain on the approach to F1 2026 when opportunity knocks. With chassis and engine regulations being overhauled, Aston Martin will be a team to watch.<\/p>\n Working on the chassis is legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey, while the team\u2019s Honda engine partnership kicks in from F1 2026.<\/p>\n How F1 2026 is shaping up<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0F1 2026: Confirmed teams and power unit suppliers for F1\u2019s huge regulation changes<\/a><\/p>\n