Fernando Alonso has exceeded Mike Krack’s expectations

Fernando Alonso joined the Aston Martin team this year. The senior driver on the grid had an impressive start to the season, achieving 6 podium finishes in the first 8 Grand Prix races. Coming from the Alpine team, the double world champion has surpassed the expectations of his team manager.

Perfect integration

« He exceeded my expectations, which were already very high. It’s not so much what he does on the track, but how he integrated himself into the team. He did exactly what we expected from him: being constructive when needed, motivating when needed. And even being critical, that’s what pushes us forward. Understanding this balance is harder than one might think », explained Mike Krack in his mid-season evaluation.

For the team manager, the situation with the drivers to have good debriefs is complicated. « The drivers get out of their car, they are full of adrenaline and a microphone is handed to them. They address the media, give their debriefing and it is difficult to always find the right tone in these circumstances. In fact, saying what needs to be said is the exception rather than the norm. It is a difficult thing to do. That’s why I don’t like giving interviews right after a qualifying session or a race. I want to step back a little and gather my thoughts. I don’t envy the drivers. »

10 years without a victory

The Silverstone-based team is working to help the double world champion achieve his 33rd career victory. The former Alpine driver hasn’t won a Grand Prix since 2013. « Fernando is fantastic in this area. When he sends analyses, it’s always positive, never a word out of place: he shares what he discovered, what he feels, what worked well, and what he would like to try next. I won’t make a prediction about his 33rd victory, but we are incredibly determined to do everything in our power to achieve it », concluded the team manager.