Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack says Fernando Alonso was "very impressive" during his recent first test for the team in Abu Dhabi last month.
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Alpine allowed Alonso to drive an unbranded AMR22 in the Pirelli tyre test that followed the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, giving him an advantage as he gets to know his new team. As Pirelli begins its 2024 tyre testing programme in the new year, he may get additional time in the 2022 vehicle. “It was really impressive, quite impressive by the efficiency with which the messages were transmitted,” Krack said of the Abu Dhabi expedition. “It was always direct and to the point, and it was very friendly and open, transparent, I believe in both directions.” We’re really pleased with how this day went.”
When asked how Alonso and Sebastian Vettel compared, Krack responded, “Different, yes, because they have different backgrounds. One is German, the other is Latin. That significantly alters things. “But what they have is a focus—a focus on development, a focus on advancement, and a focus on identifying—rather than merely listing—the factors that contribute to advancement. There are some parallels and some variances.
Krack stated that it is already clear that Alonso will inspire the team. “When discussing Fernando, I often show him this photo from the Mexican Grand Prix to show his annoyance at not coming in eighth. This serves as an illustration of commitment and drive. “So, if you have someone with this passion and drive to win, I think he has an impact on the team, and we could clearly see that, how everyone was really delighted to have this guy in the car,” the author said. “I believe he ignites perhaps another spark onto the team from his own passion and drive to succeed.”
Alonso can significantly help the team advance, according to Dan Fallows, technical director of Aston Martin. From a technical standpoint, Fallows emphasised how crucial it is to have drivers who can provide constructive criticism. “I avoid using the word praise since it isn’t always the case. However, constructive criticism and the ability to articulate one’s feelings while driving are crucial for us. “Lance [Stroll] is highly skilled in that area as well, which is a great blessing for us.
We didn’t really miss anything by Seb leaving, in my opinion. “However, we do want to see that improvement and we do want to build a car that is much better for the following year, so we need to make sure we have drivers who can take use of that to the fullest. “Like I said, I believe Lance is a driver who is capable of operating the vehicle; Fernando, on the other hand, has a significant amount of experience and a track record that demonstrates his ability to do so. The driver lineup is quite exciting.
