Aston Martin F1 principal Mike Krack sees his team reach a stage where fighting for podiums and wins will no longer be a surprise in the future.
When Lawrence Stroll’s consortium decided to buy shares of Aston Martin Lagonda in 2020, leading to the renaming of the team from what was once called Racing Point, big plans were being made as the name Aston Martin would return to the starting grid of Formula 1 in 2021
A five-year plan to win the title was in place, but as we enter the second year of this project, little progress has been made, in fact the opposite has happened.
Racing Point won a race and finished fourth in the championship in 2020, picking up three additional podiums in the same year. And while Aston Martin finished only seventh last year, it currently sits in ninth place in 2022.
The British team has invested in a new factory and a new wind tunnel, as well as in select personnel. In addition to the arrival of Martin Whitmarsh, former CEO of McLaren F1, we can also note the recruitment of the former director of aerodynamics at Red Bull, Dan Fallows, as well as Eric Blandin, who operated before within Mercedes F1 before.
While Krack underlined the fact that it takes time to establish a culture of winning, he is confident that Aston Martin F1 will succeed in fulfilling its high ambitions.
“In the future, I see Aston Martin as a team where success will be the norm,” said the Luxembourger. « I see a team that won’t be surprised to finish on the podium or win races. »
« We have to get to a point where we will consistently get good results on the track, but we also have to believe in our ability to get there. »
« We are talking about developing a winning culture here, which takes time, and for that we need to develop a fast car. Our journey has only just begun and there will be obstacles, but the fighting spirit of Aston Martin F1 is second to none. It’s a team I’m very proud to be part of and I’m excited to see what the future holds. »
Aston Matin F1 is already doing a lot for diversity and inclusion
To bring up the culture again, Aston Martin F1 has been ahead of the curve with the introduction of a more progressive program in Formula 1. Why is it so important for the discipline to make everyone feel good? welcomed, and how to ensure that it becomes a reality?
« It’s very important that everyone feels welcome. Everyone’s point of view should be respected, and everyone should be able to share their passion for the sport. »
« Our new factory will be finished in the first quarter of next year. Having everyone working on the same campus will change the dynamic within the team in 2023. People will feel more integrated: they will be able to have discussions face-to-face more easily and the space will be much more open, which will encourage interaction and dialogue. It’s all about collaboration and teamwork. »
« If an F1 team is only made up of closed-minded people, it’s hard to find performance. But if it’s filled with open-minded people who know how to welcome different ideas, different approaches, it becomes much easier. Multiple mindsets are essential to success, and that’s something we fully embrace as a team. »
« We demonstrated this through our campaign ‘All in. All welcome. All celebrated.’ at the British Grand Prix, then with our work with Racing Pride in support of the LGBTQ+ community Our ‘Make a Mark’ program, set up with our partner Cognizant, allows us to inspire the next generation of engineers and to open the door to careers in motorsport. Finally, we can mention our efforts to raise awareness of the under-representation of women in this industry. »
« We want to get to the point where people are going to say ‘wow, I want to be part of the Aston Martin F1 project. It’s a diverse team, made up of passionate people who share the same values as me, and it’s a team where I feel welcome, where I feel at home. Really, it’s important, like at home. »
« It’s already starting to happen, we’re seeing more and more green in the stands and more and more talent joining the team. As to what Formula 1 can do, I think the answer lies in the question « Sport needs to do more than just talk about it. What you do is more important than what you say, that’s how you gain credibility. »
