Lance Stroll is setting a high target for himself and Aston Martin in 2021, amid the "massive buzz" surrounding the team.
On Wednesday, the former Racing Point squad unveiled their car for this season, the AMR21, bringing back the famous British Racing Green livery albeit still with the odd flash of BWT pink.
And the opportunity to represent a brand like Aston Martin, which has not competed in F1 as a team since 1960, is certainly bringing a surge in energy as the Silverstone-based squad eyes the front of the grid.
“This is such an exciting time of the year," Stroll declared. "The car launch is when everything starts to feel real again, especially this year with our new identity as Aston Martin.
"The new name is exciting for everyone and there is a massive buzz around the factory."
Also Read:
- Stroll 'proved a lot to myself' despite 'missed opportunities' in 2020
- Stroll: 'Easy ride' criticism only fuels me to prove people wrong
- Impressed Vettel 'immediately motivated' by Aston Martin opportunity
Stroll heads into a new championship campaign after a year of ups and downs in 2020, ranging from two podiums and a maiden pole to some big crashes and catching Covid-19.
But the 22-year-old is confident of another season of progress.
"It is going to be my third season here working with this great bunch of people, and that stability is what you need as a driver," the Canadian said.
"I am at home here and I have built those strong relationships with the team now. All that stuff makes a difference when we are competing for those last fractions of a second.
"It is a case of knowing exactly what you need and how to work with the team to really optimise performance."
And with 23 races planned but only three days of pre-season running in Bahrain, Stroll admits the pressure is on.
“It is all quite full-on this year with fewer testing days available, but we have made good use of our simulation tools at the factory to help us prepare," he explained.
"There will be higher expectations this year for several reasons – including the team name – and I see 2021 as a huge opportunity for us to score some great results.
"We had real momentum at the end of 2020 and I believe we can hit the ground running this year, too."
As a result, Stroll isn't holding back with his ambitions.
“This year I think finishing third in the [Constructors'] championship would be great for the team. From my side, pushing to finish up at the front top five in the championship would be a great achievement," he stated.
“Last year we were sitting fourth for such a long time and then had some misfortune that set us back, but it goes to show that the potential is there if we just execute [it] and focus on the job.”
