Aston Martin’s 2022 season is disappointing, but at least Fernando Alonso’s team next year is beginning to show signs of real progress. Not surprisingly, he has scored points in 8 of the last 9 races.
Formula 1 does not stop at no time or wait for anyone. This means that those who start behind must redouble their efforts to catch up.
This is what is happening this season to Aston-Martin, although everything indicates that little by little it is achieving it. The formation based in Silverstone, and that in 2023 will receive Fernando Alonso, began this new regulatory period being the last on the grid and, little by little, it is managing to climb positions.
“We have managed to place ourselves probably behind Alpine and McLaren”
The turning point was the introduction of the B version of the Aston Martin AMR222 at the Spanish Grand Prix. This new car has proven to have a good running pacealthough it has not been until now that it has begun to offer a little more speed in classification.
“I think you can’t deny if you look at the qualifying pace at Zandvoort, we’ve made a small step. But also if you look at the pace in the races and the score we have, we have improved»says Mike Krack when asked about it.
“I think the first three races were catastrophic. We fought our way through, but we need to be a little higher than we have been. We have managed to place ourselves probably behind Alpine and McLaren, ”reiterates the director of Aston Martin.
Aston Martin, the sixth team on the grid
From the Spanish Grand Prixthe new car has scored points in 8 of the 10 races held, failing only in that initial appointment and in Austria.
This allows Aston Martin to look up the overall standings, as it has serious chances of reach seventh place in the constructors’ championship currently held by Haas.
The American team currently has 34 points, while AlphaTauri has 29 and Aston Martin 25.
“I think we can be in contention for the sixth fastest team on a consistent basis,” muses Mike Krack. “We have two Alpines and a McLaren that finish ahead of Lando (Norris). And we are the following».
“I think we can still score points in the next races. I think everyone is very motivated. In general, we give our maximum again, next week we go for it again and we have to score (Italian GP). There is a very positive spirit in the team, both at Silverstone and on the circuits. It is not easy to beat us if we have a car with similar speed»reiterates the Luxembourg engineer.
Aston Martin deserves more
There is no doubt that seventh place would calm the choppy waters currently coursing through Aston Martin’s headquarters at Silverstone, but it is nonetheless a disappointing result for a team aiming for the top.
However, Mike Krack considers that the team has enough arguments to perform as expected in the future.
“I think our racing team is very good on strategy, in terms of tire management and also on the right set-up.. We have also improved the car. I mean, it will be unfair to put everything now in the racing team, “says Krack.
“The car has improved in recent events, clearly. And we hope we can make it even better. The upcoming race at Monza is obviously a bit of an outlier. But I think when the going gets tough, our racing team does a good job, honestly,” he concludes.
Will Aston Martin be able to cap off its improvement with a seventh-place finish in the Constructors’ World Championship, despite having already abandoned the development of this year’s car?
Font: motorsport.com
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Photos: Aston Martin Racing