F1 boss Mike Krack admits frustrated star could have TORN team apart

Grid, F1, 2023, Bahrein, generic — Photo: © IMAGO

Latest F1 News

F1 boss admits frustrated star could have TORN team apart

Aston Martin boss Mike Krack praises Fernando Alonso

Kevin McKenna

Thursday 16 May 2024 16:57

A Formula 1 team principal has revealed that their star driver could have ripped them apart following one particularly challenging race last season.

The 2023 Mexican Grand Prix was dominated by Max Verstappen, who breezed home to clinch his 16th race victory of a remarkable campaign which ended with the Dutchman collecting his third consecutive drivers' title.

WATCH: 10 Things That You Didn’t Know About Imola and the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Article continues under video

The showpiece event in Mexico City provided huge drama for fans, as Kevin Magnussen's crash on lap 35 saw the stewards wave the red flag to bring a halt to the proceedings.

Home-favourite Sergio Perez was already back in the pits by that stage after his challenge ended at Turn 1 following a collision with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, much to the disappointment of his supporters.

Fernando Alonso was left frustrated after retiring at the 2023 Mexican Grand Prix

'Team player' hailed

Fernando Alonso experienced a frustrating afternoon too, having been forced to retire after a suffering floor damage while battling it out at the rear of the grid.

It was the latest in a long line of recent disappointments for the Spaniard, who had made a stunning start to the campaign, clinching six podiums in his first eight races, before performances dropped off.

Reflecting on the fallout from that weekend, Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has hailed the Spaniard for being a 'team player', insisting it would have been easy for the former world champion to let his frustrations boil over.

Speaking to Auto Motor und Sport, Krack said: "In order to create a good basis of trust, you always have to be honest with each other.

“If we just take the race in Mexico last year as an example, we gave Fernando a car that was probably the slowest in the field.

“It would have been easy for him to express his frustration publicly in the media, but we managed to keep him from tearing us apart - that shows what a team player he is.”

Max Verstappen Mercedes Charles Leclerc Sergio Perez Kevin Magnussen