Mike Krack officially started work this year with Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team on March 1^st A mere two days later he faced his first virtual media session as team principal. During a far-reaching conversation, of which MotorLAT was in attendance, the motorsport community gained a better understanding of the humble, passionate and widely experienced man now leading Aston Martin in their latest F1 chapter.   

Mike Krack’s comments on 4-time F1 Drivers’ World Champion Sebastian Vettel (reported on MotorLAT yesterday) showed his awareness for the task ahead of him if he hopes to retain the services of Vettel in future.
https://www.motorlat.com/notas/f1/24344/f1-aston-martin-needs-to-deliver-a-performing-car-for-vettel-says-krack-he-doesn-t-want-to-be-12th-or-15th

Prior to joining Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team, Mike Krack was leading BMW’s global motorsport operation, since 2014. However, Krack is no stranger to Formula One, having worked for a decade in the pinnacle of motorsport, for Sauber and consequently BMW-Sauber. Mike Krack has a vast experience of BMW’s Formula E, GT and IMSA programmes. Nevertheless, as Aston Martin’s Team Principal, Mike Krack is aware that this position, in this team at this time of regulation change is one with much expectancy.

With such a high expectation on the mild-mannered man now leading the way at Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team, the question was posed as to whether his promotion (brought about through headhunting) was an overwhelming one?

“Yes it is overwhelming, it has been,” Krack remarked during the virtual media session, “I have been here a couple of times before my official start… just when you see this huge new building [factory] being built, it is overwhelming. It has to be [said].

“I think you have to approach this in a humble way. You have to first come here and understand how this team is working, because we must not forget Team Silverstone is a great team.”

Team Silverstone, as referenced by Mike Krack, certainly does have a rich pedigree. A motorsport team which started as Jordan GP Team (1991-2006) then had two consecutive years of different ownership as Midland F1 (2006) and Spyker F1 (2007) before finding its feet and a return to success as Force India (2008-2018). Then a result of financial demands and off-track events the team became Racing Point up to 2020 until that in turn was taken over by Aston Martin as they returned to a sport which they left 61 years prior.   

“For all these years, it always overperformed to its possibilities and it is important to find out where are the strengths of the team, and where can we make it stronger, where we can improve on some of the weaknesses it’s having.”

“At the moment, I have a lot of discussions with individuals, with team leaders, with department leaders, to understand how the team is running, how the system is operating.”

Having come from BMW Motorsport and been involved with a range of the motorsport categories, Mike Krack acknowledges that this will benefit him at Aston Martin moving forward.

“It’s always difficult to speak about your own strengths, but having been in engineering for very long, F1 but also out of F1 – FE, Hypercar – it gives you a very good overview about KPIs that are needed for different categories,” Krack explained. “I think it is important if you are in a technical management role that you understand these KPIs and what is important to be successful on a technical side because Formula 1 is very technical and very advanced in terms of development.”

Team Principal of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, Toto Wolff, has seen his team secure 8 consecutive F1 Constructors’ Championships. In interviews, Wolff would always make a point of stating that he does not know the inside details about every aspect of the team as his strength is people management and utilising talent by knowing the right people to have around him. Such a quality is one which Mike Krack demonstrated in his recent remarks when explaining where his strengths lie and what he will bring to his new team.

“I think my strength is not in the engineering though, I think I manage to bring people together, to give them trust, to enable them, and I think I can manage to form teams that work well together. This is not a five-minute job, to have the individuals, because you can bring very very bright individuals and they never work well together, whereas sometimes it’s more important to have teamwork than the ultimate individuals.”

“It’s this fine balance between having the good people and also having them together. Because team is everything, in F1, we know we have a large headcount and we all have to pull on the same side of the rope, playing for the same goal, everyone who is involved.” Krack said to the media listening in.

The Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team certainly has all it needs to be on the path to greatness. It was already clear that Mike Krack relished the opportunity ahead of him, as when his appointment was first announced, he stated:

“I could not be in a better team than this one. I'm extremely privileged.”

Krack’s recent comments have since seen him explain that with so many resources at his disposal, “it is a matter of bringing them together, having the right spirit and having the right attitude.” Now, all Mike Krack needs is time and if that is granted, we may very well see Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team challenging at the front…and staying there.