(Motorsport news) Aston Martin’s new team principal Mike Krack has reiterated his belief that the Formula 1 team are on their way to become title contenders by 2025. The former boss of BMW Motorsport was hired by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll and has extensive experience in motorsport engineering and management, having been a race engineer at the BMW Sauber team in Formula 1. 

In an interview, Krack said “We have everything we need but we need to make the right decisions. It doesn't come by itself. It is hard work over many days, weeks and months. I agree that five-year plans do not always come to success. There can only be one winner. And very often you have a disruption – like this year with a new set of regulations – where you have to readjust. 

“But on the other hand, what is a little bit different to the team you have mentioned [Alpine] is we aren't an OEM [major car manufacturer]. We are a lean management structure and we can decide very quickly and we are very flexible. We have big possibilities and we have a quick decision path. This is an asset not everyone has. Obviously you cannot plan success, but you have to put everything in place to achieve it."

The team currently being led by Krack became Aston Martin last year. Lawrence Stroll acquired the team which was known as Force India F1 team in 2018 after its collapse into administration. The team has had various names over the years and was initially named Jordan in 1991 and have traditionally had a reputation for overachieving despite their limited resources. 

One of the reasons for Krack to join Aston Martin was the similarities he saw to his time at Sauber. Krack said “I sense a little bit the situation I had with Sauber. We were in a similar situation where at times we were clearly over-performing to our capabilities and then we had a big partner coming in where you all of a sudden had possibilities you never had before. We have something similar here. BMW also had a five-year plan and it was handled in a very corporate manner, which we must avoid at any cost here." 

Aston Martin are currently building a new state of the art facility at Silverstone which will be finished by 2023. The British team’s driver lineup for the upcoming season comprises Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll and they will hope to build on to their 7th place Constructors Standing finish from the 2021 season. Krack said “It is clear a guy like Sebastian does not want to be 15th or or 12th or eighth. It is our task to deliver a performing structure. Sebastian is a clever guy. He will not just be focusing on this year's car but [on whether] he sees the potential. And if we can offer him this we have a chance to keep him for longer. I have not spoken to him about it. It is our task to deliver the right package and then Sebastian will [want to] stay and other drivers would like to join."

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