Aston Martin’s Mike Krack has lavished praise on Max Verstappen amid rumours the Formula 1 team could be lining up an attempt to sign the current Red Bull driver.
The Dutchman is under contract until 2028, but the turbulence at Red Bull last term has prompted him to be linked with potential moves to both Aston Martin and Mercedes.
Aston Martin was alleged to have been telling prospective sponsors that it was plotting a £1 billion bid to land Verstappen’s services, a claim that the squad has denied.
Verstappen cemented his status as an all-time great in 2024 as he logged his fourth consecutive Drivers’ title, despite not having what was recognised as the benchmark car.
The RB20 began the season as a dominant package, but worsening balance issues contributed to Red Bull relinquishing the Constructors’ Championship to McLaren.
Krack believes that Verstappen rising above Red Bull’s woes to retain the crown with two rounds still remaining represented his greatest title success to date in the series.
Asked about Verstappen, Krack, who was Aston Martin Team Principal but has since been moved into a revised trackside role, told RacingNews365 in 2024: “Fantastic.
“This year’s [title] was probably the best we have seen from him, with a car that was struggling. You see the team-mate [Sergio Perez] was really struggling [in a] car that at times was not second or third best, in my opinion. And you saw that excellence come out. You see the true champion when it gets really difficult.
“We have seen massive, quick turnarounds, from a difficult practice session into a qualifying session where you think: ‘Wow, how was this possible? They were struggling so much yesterday’, or ‘they were struggling so much this morning.’
Verstappen made ‘the difference’ in 2024
Krack singled out the Brazilian Grand Prix as a particular moment when Verstappen excelled as he surged from 17th spot on the grid in the wet to end a 10-race winless run.
“I have to say, Brazil, we saw the difference,” he added.
“Someone does not become four-time World Champion [by] just cruising around, especially when you see this year – I think it was very tough for him and for the team.
“We can only take our hats off to how he has done that. I’m full of admiration, I have to be honest.”
Verstappen’s Brazilian ‘masterpiece’
Verstappen sliced through the pack in the nascent stages to make up 10 places in the opening 10 laps alone, a showing that had Krack in awe on the Aston Martin pit wall.
“If we take Brazil, there was basically not much overtaking, even in the wet, but he just went through the field and left them all 30 seconds behind,” he elaborated.
“That was a masterpiece. It’s nice to see that. It’s nice to see that there is a very high level of driving in Formula 1.
“But then there is something extra with some champions that we see, not every year, but we see it on occasion, and I think that is also one of the reasons why we do this, because we want to see that.”
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