Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack has criticised the Formula 1 competition for what he’s perceived as continued talk without the necessary action when it comes to making gains towards the front of the grid.
There was a considerable gulf between the leading three teams and the rest during the opening year for F1’s newest technical regulations last year, with McLaren’s Lando Norris the only driver outside of the Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull triumvirate to scoop a podium.
Aston Martin finished seventh in the Constructors’ standings last season, but the Silverstone-based entity still aspires to become a front-running competitor and hopes the construction of an impressive new factory facility will produce another big step forward towards its long-term goal.
When asked in an interview with the Spanish publication AS about what made Aston Martin’s future hopes of winning different to other teams around them, Krack responded: “The green team stands out because we are expanding, we are very serious about our ambitions.
“It’s not just words, we are building a new headquarters, a new wind tunnel, we have hired a lot of very good people. It’s a matter of making everything work together, but the potential of our project is absolutely real.
“There are teams that say yes, that in three years they will be winning, that in a hundred races they will be winning, but what are they doing to win?”
Alpine’s chief executive officer, Laurent Rossi, infamously revealed the French constructor had set an internal target to consistently compete for victories after 100 races back in 2021.
Despite progressing to an improved position of fourth last season, the Enstone outfit have been stung in their own pursuit of success by the departure of Fernando Alonso to a rival team.
Alonso surprised many when he opted to trade Alpine for Aston Martin over the winter. However, Krack states the British marque’s newest recruit held absolutely no reservations about investing in the project being assembled at his new home.
“That’s why Fernando was clear about it so quickly, in fact we didn’t even have to convince him, he already knew it. He has his contacts everywhere,” said Krack.
“We are credible, we are not only talking, we are acting.”
While Sebastian Vettel became the next high-profile name to exit F1 at the end of last year, Alonso is still going strong at the age of 41 and Krack believes the Spanish driver can remain behind the wheel by the point in which the team hopes to be on an equal pedestal with the sport’s elite.
“You say that he doesn’t have many years left in F1, I’m not sure that he agrees with that.
“If the motivation is there, plus the dedication, the physical and mental preparation, his talent and experience, I don’t think he has little time left.”
When pressed further on what he thinks Alonso could achieve if he is delivered the machinery to race at the front again, the Aston Martin boss was left in no doubt that the two-time world champion is still as good as anybody else on the F1 grid.
“In a car identical to everyone else’s, in the front row. The main task is to provide a car that is capable of doing that for Fernando. If we produce it, he will put it where it should be,” Krack confidently expressed.
