Aston Martin has had a flying start to the 2023 season, as new hire Fernando Alonso powered the car to P3 in the three opening races of the season.
Alonso’s teammate Lance Stroll has also enjoyed better success this year with two points finishes, only missing out in Jeddah due to an engine problem that saw him retire from the race.
Despite this significant step up for Aston Martin, leaping from P7 in the Constructors’ season last year to currently sitting in P2, team owner Lawrence Stroll is reportedly not satisfied.
“The mission is very clear,” team principal Mike Krack said after Australia.
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“[Stroll] has not been having any delay in telling us, ‘When are we going to win the next one?’ Obviously, he is happy we have made a step, but this is not enough for his ambitions.
“The good thing is with Lawrence is you know where you stand – he wants more, and we will have to deliver more.
“But even someone as ambitious as Stroll will know that the task of beating these Red Bulls is a monumental one,” Krack added.
Red Bull’s hat trick of victories has raised fears from some in the paddock that the team could win every race of the season due to their overwhelming performance advantage over their rivals.
Despite the pace difference, Krack is optimistic that Aston Martin can close the gap and challenge for P1 as the season moves forward.
“Three circuits with three characteristics. To be competitive on all three, we are confident we can be on other circuits as well,” Krack said.
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“But you know the range of circuits is now very different – you have Baku with huge straights and then you have Monaco with no straights.
“These kinds of things will always shift the field a little bit and this can happen when you have such small margins, it can happen.
“It’s the situation we are in and I’ve said it before, we have to be at maximum at all times, at 100% to get [the most] out of it,” he explained.