(Motorsports news) With its AMR23, which had enormous potential even before a pedal was pushed at preseason testing, Aston Martin stunned Formula One this year. In Bahrain, a revitalized Fernando Alonso won the podium and an injured Lance Stroll finished sixth, giving the former his first of six podiums, confirming the rumors that had been circulating across the paddock regarding his team’s prowess.
The outcomes for Aston represented not merely an improvement in form but also a significant reversal. With outgoing Sebastian Vettel limited to just 37 points in a nondescript farewell season, and Stroll trapped at with 18 points scored, it finished 2022 a pitiful eighth in the championship.
The pressure began to mount on the old Racing Point team, which is owned by the overly ambitious Lawrence Stroll, as throughout the first half of 2022 Vettel and Stroll routinely struggled to go past Q1. A notably low point was the Australian Grand Prix, as the two qualified 18th and 20th, respectively, and Stroll, the only Aston finisher, almost ended a lap down.
Team principal Krack recounts how the team maintained composure and began a methodical program to battle its way back into contention rather than panicking or allowing a blame culture to leak through the walls of its Silverstone headquarters. “2022 didn’t get off to a fantastic start. The majority of the burden was on us after three races because we were the only team without a point, according to Krack.
“I recall very clearly saying to Tom McCullough, Performance Director and myself, “We need to keep this thing together. If there is a big chance that the finger pointing starts and all that,” on the flight from Melbourne. And we were able to avoid doing it. We were able to draw our conclusions from it. “It was crucial that we welcomed the new members right away; Dan Fallows and Eric Blandin joined, and it was nice that it was always constructive and positive; it was always challenging teamwork,”
The going got harder for Aston in recent races as Mercedes, a revived McLaren, and to a lesser extent Ferrari took action in the 2023 arms race to deny Aston any additional podium positions. Krack thinks Aston’s recent troubles will keep the team from getting carried away after its early triumphs were greeted with wild celebrations, whether it be because the team made a mistake in its development or because it was the target of a flexi-wing clampdown by the FIA.
“You must allow folks to let loose and simply enjoy themselves. You watched our guys celebrating, and we did the same thing in the plant, he continued. Everyone puts so much heart into what they do, so it’s crucial to have these moments where your efforts are rewarded. “However, on Monday [following Bahrain], we got back together and said, ‘OK, this is just one podium, we have a long way to go. Let’s move on from there.'”
“We also had our first taste of racing when things weren’t going well; this is also keeping folks grounded. “A fine line must be drawn between getting carried away and remaining modest. There is still plenty to do.
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