Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack insists that podium results are not feeling “normal” despite its exceptional start to the 2023 Formula 1 campaign.
The team has taken four third-place finishes in the first five races, with all coming at the hands of Fernando Alonso.
The Silverstone-based squad has taken a sizeable step forward compared to 2022, when it finished seventh in the Constructors’ Championship.
It currently occupies second in the standings after its strong opening form – but Krack insists that it is not feeling like an ordinary result for the team.
“No, no, no, no, no – feet on the ground,” he said. “You should never take a podium in F1 as a normal or as a given.
“It’s a lot of hard work involved to be on the podium, and you have very, very strong competitors in F1, very professional, and if you are not 100% in all areas at all times, then there is no podium.”
Alonso started the race in second place and was battling Carlos Sainz for position, before the Ferrari driver was issued a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane.
Although Alonso’s place on the podium was in danger, Aston Martin didn’t call Alonso into the pits when Ferrari attempted an undercut on lap 18.
“We wanted to follow our plan and not get rushed into undercuts, because we are building a tyre advantage,” Krack said.
“You must not forget, we didn’t know how long we could go with the Hards at this stage.
“We did not want to overdo it and also we did not want to box into traffic, because then you run into dirty air and you overdo a bit the tyres.
“I think it was a great call from the strategy team, from the tyre guys, to say let’s stay out, we still have faith in these tyres, and I think it paid off later in the race.
“That was a more logical strategy, because you want to have no downside on the first laps, and you have always the risk with a Safety Car later in the race, and then if you are on the hard, on the wrong tyre, that’s very dangerous.”
