Aston Martin chief trackside officer Mike Krack believes it would be “unthinkable” and "dramatic" if Fernando Alonso opted to quit the team and F1 at the end of this season.
Alonso is weighing up his future at a time when Aston Martin is suffering on track after a major change to this year's regulations, and also in taking on a new power unit partner after joining forces with Honda and ending its prior partnership with Mercedes.
The two-time F1 champion has made clear he will not be rushed into making a decision, primarily as he waits to see if the team can continue to make gains over the remainder of the season after taking a step in the right direction recently. Honda, however, is still struggling.
Krack can appreciate why Alonso is biding his time.
"At the end of the day, we have always been clear that the team wants to continue [with him], but we need to respect what Fernando's thoughts are and the time he wants to take," he said, speaking to the media, including RacingNews365.
"As I've said before, we're confident we can reach a good solution for everybody. Now it's about waiting. He needs to make up his mind, and then we move on."
Alonso has additionally made clear his dislike of the regulations, describing F1 as "a battery world championship".
Last weekend in Madrid, the new home of the Spanish Grand Prix, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has stated that he plans to talk with Alonso to convince him to stay, and that he should not end his remarkable F1 career with a season like this.
"He has made clear that it is not one single thing that he wants to see change," said Krack. "And yeah, I read about these discussions [with Ben Sulayem] as well. The sport needs someone like that.
"We will all be keen to see Fernando continue. What can be done to accommodate, I think, it will be done, and then I hope we can come to a good solution and continue."
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Aston Martin refusing to discuss 'plan B'
At this stage, Krack is refusing to divulge whether the team has contingency plans should Alonso opt to quit, believing it has time on its side.
"I will not give you any names [of a potential replacement], and I will also not speak about any plan B," he said.
"We very much hope that Fernando will continue. He's very important for our team, very important for Formula 1, and motorsport in general."
As to the alternative, however, that is a possibility Krack does not want to consider.
"It would be a pity to not have him anymore," he said.
"And because that would be so dramatic, I do not even want to talk about it or think about it."
Originally published by RacingNews365 —
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