The British Grand Prix will be the final race in a series of three consecutive stages and will also mark the culmination of the first half of the season. Aston Martin F1 Principal Mike Krak commented on the disappointing results from the Austrian weekend and shared his predictions for the team’s home race at Silverstone.
Question: How would you sum up the difficult weekend in Austria?
Mike Krak: We knew it would be difficult there, because the circuit in Spielberg was hardly suitable for our car – and it was. Neither in the sprint nor in the race on Sunday did we get the chance to fight for the points.
The situation is difficult, but at least we have to be honest with ourselves and admit that we are not doing a good job of modernising the car; the new products introduced after Imola, contrary to calculations, did not bring an increase in speed.
Although we had a hard time in Austria, we continued to study the characteristics of the AMR24, because this is the only way forward. The team is working around the clock to improve the efficiency of the machine.
Q: What are your expectations for the British Grand Prix?
Mike Krak: Silverstone, with its long, fast corners, will be another tough test for the team. The nature of the British circuit is unlikely to play to the strengths of the AMR24, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get the chance to do well.
The team remains as focused as possible and ready to seize any opportunity that comes along. The end of the Austrian Grand Prix reminded us that anything can happen on the track.
In terms of work processes, the team is doing very well this season. In Austria we had excellent pit stops and in general we are on the right track now. The results should be higher, but we know what measures need to be taken.
This weekend we will do everything we can to satisfy the British fans. The race at Silverstone promises to be a huge event, with almost half a million people visiting the circuit over the three days of the weekend. Such love for Formula 1 and support for our team is very rewarding, and I am grateful to be involved in this.
It looks like it will stay dry on Saturday and Sunday, which is good news for anyone planning to be in the grandstand. It is a special pleasure to watch cars race around the Silverstone circuit at top speed. This weekend has all the ingredients for a great show and I, like all the fans, am already excited.
Q: The Silverstone circuit is in close proximity to the Aston Martin Technology Campus: how is the development of the new base progressing?
Mike Krak: The scale of what we are building is impressive. We moved into the first building a few months before the British Grand Prix last year, and it was a really significant event. All the staff are now working close by, the process of information sharing is much easier to achieve, and the whole infrastructure has improved, creating a more favourable working environment.
The second and third buildings are also almost finished and soon the new wind tunnel will be operational. This is a very interesting period for the team and I am proud to be part of this creative process.
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
