Picture Credits Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team
Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix brought with it a second F1 podium for Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team and Fernando Alonso’s first for his new team after a memorable debut in green. Meanwhile, Lance Stroll battled to P6 which ensured the team had their highest-scoring Grand Prix weekend. Even so, Team Principal Mike Krack is eager to tell people that the target is unchanged and they will keep their feet on the ground.
There was a lot of speculation about how Aston Martin F1 Team would perform in Bahrain. Team Principal Mike Krack revealed to the written media post-race that even though his team had a good pre-season they still had no idea how other teams were performing as a result of choosing to focus on themselves.
“I mean coming here we didn’t know 100% where we were because in testing one never really knows who does what. Also, we then decided not to focus too much on what the others are doing but focus on ourselves and then we did our homework. I think it was very important not to make any mistakes either yesterday with quite a lot of obstacles…it was really important to set a good run in in qualifying and then today it was a bit of the same in the race. We tried not to get carried away with people stopping early because we knew the tyre advantage.” Krack then also quipped as to the other reason for his team’s strategy when he told the written press “And we wanted also to do a good show for you guys to pass on track and not in the pits – joking. No honestly at the end of the day it was really executed properly.”
As well executed as the race strategy was on Sunday in Bahrain, it could have been a very different story as Aston Martin’s race could have been over before the end of the opening lap. Teammate Lance Stroll made contact with Fernando Alonso’s AMR23, and the Spaniard was fortunate to survive unscathed. When recalling this incident, Mike Krack was pragmatic stating that these things can happen on lap one.
“Yeah, but this is things that in lap one can happen. Lance was fighting very hard with George [Russell] on the outside. And I don’t like to see that either, that is clear. But we let them race in lap one and lap two and continue. So, it’s something that you know that can happen. To be honest, I have not checked the cars. I have not seen the cars yet. On the data we didn’t see any major damage.” The fact that the pair of AMR23’s survived the contact also shows how strong the car is which is promising for the long season ahead. The incident saw Alonso fall back to P7 but by the time the chequered flag fell, the Spaniard had hunted down the pair of Mercedes and the lone Ferrari of his fellow countryman Carlos Sainz to claim P3 at the sharp end of the field in a gripping final third of the race.
Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team hit the headlines in pre-season testing and as such all eyes were on their race day performance. ‘Team Silverstone’ has certainly made the most progress since last year and will no doubt lead the midfield. Team Principal Mike Krack was asked as to whether he had even greater aspiration having seen Fernando Alonso claim the final step of the podium in his first race for his new team.
“We wanted to make a step forward you know we did not say we want to beat Red Bull. Again, let’s keep the feet on the ground you know let’s work hard because it could be that in Jeddah, we are maybe 4th or 5th or 6th so in terms of team ranking so I think let’s enjoy today and we continue to see how it goes.” Krack claimed.
Nevertheless, as impressive as Fernando Alonso’s 99th podium in F1 was, there is a strong argument that it would not have come had Charles Leclerc not had to retire his Ferrari SF23 due to a technical issue. This fact was not lost on Mike Krack who showed in his recent remarks that he is not getting carried away and will ensure his team don’t either “So many things can go wrong and after two laps I was not dreaming about a podium to be very honest with you so it is all things you know where you have to just see how the race unfolds and just focus on the job and I mean we had also the attrition of Charles [Leclerc] which we cannot forget.” Krack said.
Due to Aston Martin having brought over several new team personnel from the Red Bull Racing ranks as part of their heavy recruitment drive during the offseason, Christian Horner was quick to bring attention to this fact post-race in Bahrain telling media “They’ve obviously done a good job over the winter. They say imitation is the biggest form of flattery, and it’s good to see the old car going so well.” Such a remark is probably as a result of Red Bull Racing’s former head of aerodynamnics, Dan Fallows, now being in the Aston Martin green.
Consequently, the team faces criticism from some that many features of a previous Red Bull Racing model have now been incorporated at Aston Martin by the team’s former mechanics. Runner-up in Bahrain on Sunday, Sergio Perez went as far as saying in the post-race press conference “It’s nice to see three Red Bull cars on the podium!” However, refusing to be drawn into the debate, Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack calmly told the written media onsite in Bahrain “We always decided we will not go into any war of words so we will leave it there.” Red Bull maestro Helmut Marko had other ideas though having said of his former mechanics “It seems they all have a good memory.” Unfortunately, one can imagine this war of words continuing the more successful Aston Martin become.
Even before the opening Grand Prix of the 2023 F1 season, Mike Krack had said of Fernando Alonso following pre-season testing “Well, if I can only say one word about Fernando, it’s ‘wow’. Honestly, it has been positive throughout in terms of feedback, in terms of how he is pushing us, how he is pushing himself, and also for the pace that he’s delivering. So, we are very happy.” Unsurprisingly this viewpoint reared its head again with Fernando Alonso having scored his 99th podium in the pinnacle of motorsport in his first race with Aston Martin. “I think, you know, it’s the right description to say ‘wow’ in every aspect. In terms of speed, in terms of how he’s pushing in terms of how he has everything on the radar up front – you know it’s really it’s amazing.” Krack stated.
Having effectively chosen a ‘double wow’ for third-place man Fernando Alonso, Krack was then asked if he had a third wow for Lance Stroll due to the fact the Canadian racer’s determination to even be in the car (after his well-documented cycling accident) along with his talent secured points for the team on Sunday when he crossed the line in P6.
“Absolutely, we must not forget he had no testing he had a problem on Friday technical and he had huge stress yesterday in qualifying. He did not drive the hard tyres at all with because we saved both and the way you know you have just no reference about managing so I think we know in all the hype that we had obviously around the podium we have also to pull our hat for what Lance did today.” Mike Krack replied.
Aston Martin’s haul of 23 points in Bahrain was impressive to say the least and the rest of the grid are clearly wary about what is to come. Even more so due to the fact that the team is continuing to look at upgrading their car. Although, on this point, Mike Krack warned about expecting too much as he claimed “It could well be that if you develop at the same rate – you stay where you are. So, let’s see where we get to.”
There will be many intrigued people both inside and outside the paddock wondering where Aston Martin will get to in 2023. For as much as Mike Krack intends to keep his team’s feet on the ground, with Fernando Alonso in your ranks the possibilities are clear to see.
Mike Krack claimed that his team ‘may be 4th or 5th or 6th in terms of team’s ranking’ when out on track next time in Saudi Arabia – but you cannot imagine many teams even considering this as being likely.
Red Bull Racing are still clear favourites for both F1 championships. The brand it is owned by is famous for its slogan ‘Red Bull gives you wings’. Meanwhile, after an opening race weekend which has reignited the imagination and put all eyes on Jeddah, we are reminded that Fernando Alonso gives you podiums – and it is safe to assume the 41-year-old Driver of the Day has many more to come.
