Aston Martin appoint new team principal

Aston Martin

Aston Martin appoint new team principal

Mike Krack replaces Otmar Szafnauer

Ian Parkes

Friday 14 January 2022 13:11 Updated: 14:24

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Aston Martin has announced former BMW motorsport boss Mike Krack as its new team principal.

The team has wasted no time in finding a replacement for Otmar Szafnauer whose departure from the role was confirmed last week.

Krack brings with him a wealth of experience after leading BMW’s global motorsport operation since 2014.

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In that role he was in charge of BMW’s Formula E, GT and IMSA programmes, as well as its planned expansion into the new LMDh formula for IMSA and WEC, including the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Regarding his appointment, Krack said: “It is a thrill and an honour to have been appointed to the position of team principal of Aston Martin, and I am very grateful to Lawrence [Stroll] and Martin [Whitmarsh] for giving me such a fantastic opportunity.

“Aston Martin is one of the greatest automotive brands in the world, and to have been asked to play a leading role in delivering the on-track Formula 1 success that such an illustrious name so richly deserves is a challenge that I plan to embrace with energy and enthusiasm.

“I have been working in motorsport for over 20 years, and worked in Formula 1 with Seb Vettel in 2006 and 2007 when I was a BMW-Sauber engineer and he was the team’s test driver.

"I have huge respect for his speed and ability, and it will be fantastic to be reunited with him. Lance Stroll is a seriously fast and talented driver, too, with 100 grands prix starts to his name, and I am very much looking forward to working closely with him.

“Team Silverstone has always impressed me. It is full of talented people and real racers. That racer’s culture and values are what is required to succeed in motorsport.

"I know that and my new colleagues at Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team know it, too. We will work incredibly hard. We want to win. Together, we will.”

As mentioned, Krack's prior experience includes 10 years in F1 with Sauber and then BMW-Sauber, as well as a senior motorsport role for Porsche.

Stroll - Aston Martin "ingredients coming together"

Hailing Krack's arrival, team owner Lawrence Stroll said: "Winning in Formula 1 is all about bringing together the best efforts of all the principal players - drivers, engineers, mechanics, everyone - and Mike is perfectly placed to do just that.

“We are hiring brilliant new people every week. Our new factory build is coming along very well. We have a fantastic roster of superb sponsor-partners.

"We are about to embark on year two of our five-year plan, the objective of which is to win Formula One World Championships. All the ingredients we require are coming together.

"Mike will play a central and leading role, reporting to Martin Whitmarsh and leading our technical and operational functions, our collective aim being to fulfil those lofty ambitions. We are on our way.”