Aston Martin’s Toughest Year: Krack Reflects on 2024

Aston Martin’s Mike Krack reflects on a challenging 2024, admitting the team failed to meet its ambitious goals amid intense competition.

Aston Martin F1 prepares for its final triple-header of the season amid concerns over a challenging finish, following a difficult American tour. Mike Krack, the Silverstone team’s director, delivers a deeply disappointed assessment of Aston Martin’s 2024 campaign.

“This has been our toughest season because we didn’t meet our own objectives,” Krack stated. “We set ourselves the challenge of building a car we could continuously develop to compete with the top four teams, but we didn’t achieve that.”

“We must be honest about it. We need to accept the situation, learn as much as we can, and understand the mistakes we made to find the best way forward.”

“I also want to praise the team spirit shown both on the tracks and at Silverstone. In Brazil, against all odds, the team rebuilt two cars in record time. The teamwork was incredible and made me proud.”

“At the factory, they delivered new parts from our new facilities in record time, maintaining the highest quality standards. Everyone worked together without complaints, just collaborating. When I see that, I’m confident about what we can achieve together. We just need time.”

“It would have been better to avoid these tough moments, but the reality is that it’s been a valuable learning experience. To be honest, these phases serve a purpose and help us gain understanding.”

“We must find a fine line between self-criticism and self-destruction. Being depressed about the situation won’t get us anywhere, but it’s hard. It would be a lie to say otherwise.”

Aston Martin’s struggles are magnified by the narrow gaps in the current field: “I think this year demonstrates just how competitive and complex our sport is. You can’t just arrive and dominate immediately. The field has tightened this year, and the margins are incredibly slim.”

“Qualifying in Mexico was a good example—the car came alive, and we were catapulted into the top 10 when we expected a Q1 elimination, which made us the winners. But if we qualify 18th, our weekend is compromised, and every scenario hinges on a tenth of a second, sometimes even less.”

“I think this has become normalized. It’s a high-exposure sport, and it’s very easy to go from zero to hero and back to zero again, very quickly. You need to develop resilience and avoid becoming too emotionally attached to a single performance. The way to manage this is to work hard, make good decisions, and learn from mistakes.”

Krack explains his role in keeping the team motivated: “Absolutely. You have to lead by example. When you walk into the garage or sit on the pit wall, even if you feel down, you can’t let it show in your body language.”

“The team will notice because they look to you for cues. It’s important to talk about these things, share the vision of what we’re going to do to move forward, ensure everyone is on board, and make sure the team enjoys the good days when they come… and they will come.”