Aston Martin admits two engineers poached from rivals have 'made a big difference
- Planet Sport writer
- 16 April 2023
Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has acknowledged the impact of Dan Fallows and Eric Bladin who arrived after the team has become a surprise contender in the 2023 Formula 1 season.
The team's rapid rise from lower mid-table to unlikely Constructors' Championship contenders has been astonishing to watch, even with many expecting them to be quick this season.
There was never any indication that they would be Red Bull's nearest competitor but part of that is also the poor performance of Ferrari and Mercedes.
Krack said the hiring of former Red Bull head of aerodynamics Fallows and former Mercedes chief aerodynamicist Blandin has been a masterstroke for the team and said the pair had an enormous benefit on the team.
"I would be lying if I said we didn't benefit from the expertise of those two," Krack told Auto Motor und Sport.
"The approach is different in every team, so it gave us insight into how we do things. Do we need to make adjustments?"
Aston Martin don't seem satisfied with that either with rumours that they are also courting Red Bull chief technology officer Adrian Newey, although this has been denied by Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
"There's always going to be rumours in this paddock. That's Formula 1," Horner told Sky.
"We don't talk about contracts or longevity of contracts, but he'll be here for many years to come.
"It's great to have him with us for the long-term, but also to be involved in projects like some of the things that we're now getting involved in."
