Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack has heaped praise on Fernando Alonso amid the Spaniard’s first season with the squad.
Alonso joined the Silverstone-based team following two years at Alpine and has enjoyed a strong start to life at the outfit.
The two-time World Champion scored a series of podiums at the start of the campaign and currently sits third in the Drivers’ standings.
Krack admits that he had high expectations for Alonso but asserts that he has already exceeded them.
“He’s exceeded my expectations – and I had very high expectations,” Krack said.
“It’s not what he does on track – that I expected – but it’s the way he has integrated into the team.
“He’s been exactly what we needed him to be: constructive when you have to be constructive; challenging when you have to be challenging.
“Even critical when being critical is what will move us forward. Understanding that balance is more difficult than people perhaps credit.”
Krack also praised Alonso for his ability to handle media pressure so soon after an on-track session ends.
“The drivers jump out of the car, they’re full of adrenaline and a microphone is shoved in their face.
“They talk to the media; they do their debriefs and it’s difficult to always hit the right notes in those circumstances. In fact, saying the right thing is the exception rather than the norm.
“It’s a tough thing to do. That’s why I do not like to give interviews straight after a qualifying session or the race. I want to walk away for a bit and gather my thoughts.
“I don’t envy the drivers. Fernando is fantastic at that stuff.
“When he sends analysis, it’s always positive, never a bad word: it’s what he’s discovered, what he feels, what worked well, what he’d like to try next.
“I’m not going to make a prediction about his 33rd victory, but we are incredibly determined to do everything we can to make it happen.”
