Krack counters Alonso's grim evaluation of Aston.

      "Only Alpine trails us"

      Former Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has sought to mitigate Fernando Alonso’s increasingly pessimistic view of the team’s performance, emphasizing that the situation isn't as dire as it seems. Alonso referred to the AMR25 as "the ninth fastest car" after barely securing a single point for a tenth-place finish in Austin, cautioning that Aston is currently in a "no man’s land."

      "The top four teams are in a different category," Alonso stated. "Williams is in the middle. Haas were quicker, and I can’t even speculate about Sauber, while Racing Bulls were behind us throughout the race - they had a gap. "Only Alpine is behind us. So with the ninth car, we earned a point. I’m pleased with that."

      The Spanish driver, now evidently looking ahead to Adrian Newey’s 2026 car, remarked: "A point is better than nothing, but it’s acceptable. We need to reach Abu Dhabi as soon as possible, and if we score a point in a race, it’s appreciated."

      However, Krack, who now holds the position of chief trackside officer, cautioned against being overly pessimistic. "I believe we can be too hard on ourselves at times," the Luxembourger noted. "We must also remember to acknowledge our positive aspects."

      Krack dismissed the notion that Aston finds itself at the back of the pack. "We need to analyze these assessments thoroughly. Some teams use soft tires, others medium or hard - we should examine the data before accurately determining our pace," he stated. "If you’re overly critical every time you don’t achieve victory, it becomes a long 24 races. When you earn a point or more, you need to take a moment to celebrate. Then, the following day, you go back to striving for excellence."

      Meanwhile, Alonso expressed concern about Aston's tendency to lose performance over the course of race weekends. "I was expecting a bit more," he acknowledged. "If you start in tenth, you anticipate the possibility of finishing ninth or eighth. Two fast cars retired ahead of us. Finishing tenth was not a great race."

      "The trend on Friday is good, slightly less on Saturday, and even less on Sunday." The two-time world champion also voiced uncertainty about 2026, when Aston Martin will introduce its own gearbox and collaborate with Honda. "We’ll have to wait and see," he told DAZN. "We all have reservations about whether we’ve chosen the right direction. We have new personnel, a new engine partner, and we’ll be making a gearbox for the first time in 17 years. The start will be busier than for other teams."