Mike Krack has reportedly opened up on the unusual fixing technique his team has used in Azerbaijan. The Aston Martin boss revealed that they used lubricants in Fernando Alonso’s car to get over the issues with their DRS flap.
According to a report published by Motorsport Espana, Krack said that the British team used a lubricant similar to WD40 to give a temporary solution to the issue. WD40 is a popular lubricant available in the market that costs around $23 a can.
However, the Luxembourger also assured that they have done it after checking it with the FIA. Furthermore, they also had to change the flap of the DRS wing of Alonso’s AMR23 in the process.
Admittedly, the British team faced huge difficulties with their DRS in Baku. Notably in Free Practice as well as in Sprint Shootout, Alonso and Stroll struggled significantly to get on with their qualification.
How much did the DRS flap hurt Aston Martin?
In simpler words, the Silverstone-based team conceived a massive disadvantage following their DRS issue in the fourth round of the season. As per reports, the Green team was two-tenths slower than their actual speed on the main straight.
AMR23, which was regarded as the second fastest car after the RB-19, failed to keep up with the rivals. Leaving aside the Bulls, Alonso’s team was slower than its immediate rivals, Ferrari and Mercedes.
In the SQ, the Aston Martin duo qualified in P8 and P9, whereas in the main qualification, they took P6 and P9, respectively. All in all, it was a tough weekend for the team that’s second in the constructors’ championship.
Despite a grueling weekend, Alonso narrowly missed out on the podium
In a week where Aston Martin covered the headlines for their Drag Reduction System problem, Alonso missed out on his podium by the slightest margin.
Had the P3 been taken in Azerbaijan, this would have been the Asturian’s fourth podium in a row, after valiant performances in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Australia in the 2023 F1 season.
The 41-year-old narrowly missed out on the prize as he finished behind Charles Leclerc, and the margin was just under a second. Despite starting from P6, the Spanish driver gave the pole sitter Leclerc a hard time in the closing laps.
