Fernando Alonso has a reputation for being difficult at times, but Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack assures that they work together “as equals “
Fernando Alonso has a reputation for being a hard-nosed character who wants to use his influence in a team. But Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack insists they work together in a very transparent and harmonious way.
“I don’t think we have to manage each other because he’s a team member like the rest of us,” he says when asked if there is any evidence of Alonso’s reputation for being difficult.
“Of course he is the most exposed driver with the highest profile, so of course you listen to what he does and you care about what he says and all that. But he knows that we want to do this together.”
“And we’re also humble and honest when we can’t achieve the goals that we’ve set or that he might expect us to achieve. So I think the key for us at this stage is really to have as open and transparent a relationship as possible,” the team boss explains.
They work together “as equals” without saying who the manager is. That has “worked quite well” so far, Krack continues. Especially at the beginning of the season, the team saw a big leap in performance and climbed from seventh place in 2022 to third place in the World Championship standings.
Alonso played a crucial role in getting the best out of this year’s AMR23, scoring six podium finishes in the first half of the season.
Krack believes Aston Martin can only benefit from having Alonso, who is contesting his 20th Formula One season, acting as a guiding light behind the scenes. “The collaboration has been fantastic, all the way through,” asserts Krack.
“I think what is very important is that he knows the weaknesses of the car and we also go through them together. So we know what to expect and we decide a lot of things together. And that’s the key.”
“Because when you have someone like that with that experience, with that cleverness, with that will, then you have to involve him. Only then can you also benefit from it.”
“That’s the way we’re trying to go,” the Aston Martin team boss holds. “We don’t say, ‘You’re just the driver’, but we really try to get everything out of this constellation and also use the positive attitude that he can bring. I think that helps us a lot. “