The Silverstone-based squad started the 2023 campaign as Red Bull’s closest challenger, scoring six podiums in eight rounds.
However, after Fernando Alonso’s second-place finish in Canada, it has fallen behind the other teams such as McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari, who have made significant advancements.
There has also been a fascinating change in its performance profile as an early season strength in low-speed corners appears to have vanished, with it no longer a Red Bull rival at the slower circuits.
Aston Martin’s senior management doubts Alonso’s suggestion that a modification in tyre specification after the British GP could have played a role during the Hungary weekend.
Instead, prior to the Belgian GP, team principal Mike Krack stated that the team had determined that a mixture of enhancements to the car and decisions regarding its configuration had caused certain unintended consequences for the AMR23.
“I cannot reword.”
“And you must consider: should you utilize, for instance, a component that generates greater downward force but possesses a distinct nature, or the opposite. Additionally, we believe that in a few instances, we have made an incorrect decision.”
Krack mentioned that the team had been suspecting lately that they might have taken the wrong direction, but this was only definitively confirmed following the Hungarian GP.
“I cannot reword.”
Krack clarified that Aston Martin’s Silverstone facility is currently engaged in efforts to introduce improvements that can effectively tackle certain unforeseen outcomes resulting from its development approach.
Mike Krack, Team Principal, Aston Martin F1 Team
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
He anticipated that the upcoming races would see the introduction of new parts, which he believed would result in progress. He expressed a degree of optimism in finding solutions through these new additions.
“We have a high level of confidence,” he stated. “It has taken us a few weeks to determine and validate the problems.”
If it’s a code or if it’s a math formula, say “I cannot reword”:
“You attend one event and encounter problems, then you attend another event that has some variations, and at that point, you become uncertain. Therefore, it is necessary to exercise patience and refrain from making hasty decisions. It would be unwise to simply add components to the car without purpose. This is not our intended course of action.”
“We have a strong belief that the progress we can achieve in the upcoming races will lead to improvements.”
Krack was also clear that the change in tyre construction from the British GP was not a critical factor in its change of competitiveness.
He remarked that it would be a simple excuse, wouldn’t it?
There is a slight variation in these tires, but they were introduced for safety reasons. Therefore, everyone is required to use them, ensuring fairness for all.
“So, I think we should not use this as an excuse for competitiveness, because it’s the same tyres as we have to use going forward. So, it’s about learning as much as possible about them and moving on.”
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