Krack says 'experienced' Aston team can handle the pressure upfront

Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack says Team Silverstone can handle the pressure of fighting amongst F1's frontrunners thanks to its experience and "fantastic" crews.

In Bahrain, Aston emerged as a genuine top-three contender, with Fernando Alonso outpacing both Mercedes drivers and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz on his way to a podium finish behind Red Bull's unassailable chargers, race winner Max Verstappen and runner-up Sergio Perez.

However, Aston will need to confirm its new-found status as F1's top midfield contender in upcoming races.

But should that be the case, can the team handle the heat that radiates at the front of the field?

"I think yes," said Krack, quoted by RacingNews365.com.

"We must not forget that we are speaking about Team Silverstone. This is a very experienced team with a lot of fantastic people that have done that already."

Indeed, in its previous Force India and Racing Point guises, Team Silverstone often sparred with F1's leaders, with Sergio Perez - who scored his fourth career podium in F1 in 2014 with Force India in Bahrain - taking a remarkable win at Sakhir in 2020, on the track's outer loop configuration.

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Proof not only of Aston's vast experience but also its efficiency, Krack underscored his crews' diligent management of the team's race last weekend in Bahrain, where strategies were flawlessly executed.

"I think we clearly saw it with the race strategy, the team did not get carried away by stopping early and trying to undercut," he explained.

"But by sticking to its plan – and this tyre advantage that was built in at the end of the day – was I think instrumental also to help [Alonso] to pass."

Nevertheless, as he looks ahead to the team's upcoming races, Krack is keeping expectations in check. Aston has taken a big step forward – some have called it 'phenomenal' - but sustaining the outfit's upward progress won't be easy.

"I agree it's a big jump forward," he said. "Phenomenal would have been if we won the race!

"It is a very good step that we have made, but also it is the first race of the year.

"I think we need to wait two, three, four races to really see how big the step is, but I think we can say that we made one."

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