Aston Martin victim of their own success: 'This is not a step backwards'

Aston Martin had a flying start to the season in 2023. Fernando Alonso was on the podium six times in the first eight races and so the British formation seemed to have the best papers to finish behind - the at the time untouchable - Red Bull Racing in the constructors' championship. However, after the last GP of the year, Aston Martin was 'only' fifth in the World Championship.

Such a start as last season was not in 2024. The team was not yet on the podium, although it is 'just' fifth in the world championship again. Difference is that the gap to number four Mercedes is already more than 200 points. There is a particularly good chance that Aston Martin will also finish fifth, as the gap to number six Visa Cash App RB is again large.

Aston Martin did not take a step back

Krack is therefore keen to stress, "If you take the podiums out of last year and you zoom out on the project, you say, 'Wow, this is proper progress'. But when you factor in what really happened, and this is partly not even within our control, you create an expectation level that's difficult to manage and sustain. In all metrics that we have, the team has made progress - except the points. It's something that you have to be realistic about and you cannot influence what your competitors are doing."

The Luxembourg team principal cited German football club Union Berlin. That team finished high in 2023, fourth in the Bundesliga and qualified for the Champions League, only to then fight against relegation and finish 15th a year later. "[Union Berlin] was the example we were discussing. Six months ago we discussed exactly that example, and I said next year will be difficult because you cannot expect to start like that, and now in many interviews that I have, it's really [portrayed as] a step back. But it's not - as a team we have really progressed, but we have not."

This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sarkozi