The team had not previously got a car into Q3 in 2022, and the performance came after a disastrous Australian Grand Prix weekend, when Vettel and team-mate Lance Stroll had four crashes between them.
Stroll made into Q2 in Imola, but was then caught out by the red flags and rain, and had to settle for 15th.
Krack said that Vettel’s performance was a positive for the team, but conceded that there are still bigger issues.
“As you can imagine, after the first three races, it was a booster for the morale,” he said ahead of Saturday’s sprint event. “The first time I saw smiling faces was yesterday. I think it was good to enjoy the moment yesterday, but today is another day.
“The problems are not disappearing overnight. But you have to enjoy the moment when it is the time to enjoy.”
Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough said that Imola qualifying came as a relief after the Melbourne weekend, as clean running allowed both drivers to find confidence in the car and pull off a stronger run programme.
“We just needed laps on the board,” he told Autosport about Aston Martin’s Friday at Imola. “We needed two cars in one piece still at the end of the day, and both drivers did that. Just chipping away all the time. Circumstances didn’t go quite our way, but it was the same for a lot of people down the pitlane.
“I think it was definitely one of those days where it was just about trying to get clean laps on the right tyres at the right time.
Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“In Q3 the timing meant Seb never got a good clean lap in. Definitely a lot more potential in the car, so a bit frustrated. But anyway, it’s nice to be frustrated with a car in Q3 and both cars through Q1!
“We’ve not done that so far this year, and definitely looked a bit more competitive in these conditions.”
Despite the positivity, Krack acknowledged that it might be hard for Vettel to hang on to his position in the…
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