Aston Martin battling distorted expectations after 2023 charge

Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack says overdelivering in the 2023 Formula 1 season means it is now battling inflated expectations.

When asked by Autosport why there is a disconnect between the progress Krack claims the team is making and its lack of on-track results, he replied: “These processes take time and there are not many businesses where you have less time than Formula 1.

“So that is the constant juggling between expectation management and the expectations you generate also with what we had last year.

“Last year, we exceeded [expectations] massively, and we are measured on this today. And that is why we have to put this year a bit more in perspective.”

Aston is partly judged on ambitious team owner Lawrence Stroll’s aim to fight for wins and world championships within four to five years, a statement which was made in July 2021.

Generously, that would give it until the regulations reset in 2026, when Aston Martin switches to works Honda power units, to realise those ambitions.

But Krack, who wasn’t at the team yet at that time, warned that the squad’s long-term focus means its progress won’t necessarily be linear.

“Last year, at this time, you said: ‘You are much ahead of the plan’. Now, we are much behind the plan. And that’s fine, we have to face also these questions if we put these statements out.

“Last year, we were obviously better than we were thinking. That trajectory will go up, it will go down, depending on what your competitors are doing. It is like the stock exchange.

“But you have to keep the target in sight. We have a plan in place how we develop…