Aston Martin reveals Fallows' departure was linked to the lack of results
Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack has revealed that the team's technical leader Dan Fallows's departure has been linked to the lack of results in the past months.
Aston Martin has recently confirmed that its technical director Dan Fallows would step down from his role, but will stay within the group.
Fallows started his career in F1 when he was recruited in 2002 by Jaguar Racing as a senior aerodynamicist. However, when Ford announced its decision to stop its involvement in Formula 1, he moved to Italian chassis builder Dallara.
In 2006, Fallows returned to the Milton Keynes outfit, which had now become Red Bull Racing, where he took on the role of team leader in the aerodynamics department. In 2014, he stepped up to become Head of Aerodynamics.
Fallows then announced that he would join Aston Martin as technical director from April 2022, and he has recently confirmed that he would leave his current role, but would stay within the Group.
Reflecting on the Fallows' departure, Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack has revealed that the decision has been linked to the lack of development with the car.
"The only thing that matters is the result and the performance at the end. And if the performance is not there, there is change. That is, I think, normal in our business. This is not different in any professional sport. If the performance doesn't come, then the team decides to make changes. And this is the case."
Pushed on to comment on how two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso and his team-mate Lance Stroll have dealt with the difficulties of recent times, Krack was delighted with his two drivers' attitude.
"Well, I think, you know, hats off to both our drivers. They have not accepted, but they're challenging us internally, but externally they are excellent team players, and this is of great help, obviously, because if the difficulties are taken to the outside, it gets much more difficult.
"So they have really conducted themselves remarkably well. It's frustrating for them as well. We came from a good start in ‘23 and since it has not really progressed. And they have the microphone in front of them each time they get out of the car and are being confronted with negative questions, which is normal.
Krack continued: "And when you have adrenaline and these kind of things, it's very difficult to stay positive, which they have done. So, yeah, credit to them."
Speaking of the forthcoming season, Krack sounded a optimistic note, but he thinks that the team still needs time before its brand-new infrastructure is entirely ready.
"I think the answer to the first question is we cannot be happy with our season. We started the year in a position where we finished it, where we finished the previous one. And our target was really to close the gap a little bit to the front.
"And the exact opposite happened. So we can't be happy with that. Then, it is clear that more buildings have come into service. More tools are coming into service. Not everything is ready yet.
"So yes foundations are being built in the background but we have to run a car also in this season and the next season and this is not dependent on ‘am I finished yet with my wind tunnel or not?’ Nobody will be interested in that after all."
