F1 News: Mike Krack Reveals Aston Martin's Game Plan For Abu Dhabi GP Amid Tight McLaren Contest

The only thing that needs to be done is to go flat out in the race.

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack revealed that the team won't be focussing on regaining the fourth spot in the Constructors' Championship in Abu Dhabi, which it lost to McLaren Racing after the United States Grand Prix.

The Silverstone outfit was in fourth for a large part of the season until it lost the spot to the Papaya team. However, the gap between the two teams has been reduced to just 11 points after drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso secured P5 and P8 in Las Vegas. 

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With the season finale in Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina circuit just days away, Krack revealed that the team has to get the best result when asked if it would focus on beating McLaren. He said:

“For me, it doesn't change anything, compared to two or three races ago.

“We can only influence what we do ourselves.

“The first bit is we have to have a fast car in Abu Dhabi, because we are behind. So it's something that we are not on the defence, we have to go flat out, and then we see. We have to do the best possible, and then we see what is the result.”

The team boss played down the idea that the team is back on track now, especially after a period where they were trying out different aerodynamic setups. He added:

“We were not lost before.

“I think it will be maybe arrogant to say we are on top of everything. I said it many times, the cars are very complex. I think there is a lot to learn still for us. So I will not say that we are on top of everything. But we have learned a lot this year.”

When asked by Motorsport.com about Stroll's outstanding pace during the inaugural race that saw his recovery from P19 to P5, Krack said:

“It was a good race, but it was also a good race two weeks ago [in Brazil].

“I think the key today was to have a good understanding of the tyres, and the strategy. It was always the plan to do something like what we did there.

“There was a little bit of luck involved in the beginning to make a lot of positions. When you look at who had how many hards left and who didn't, with the exception of Esteban [Ocon], everybody who did not have two [sets] went out of the points.”

He also added that Stroll was regaining confidence:

“What happens is he's beginning to get confidence, the results are coming, and then you get more confident.

“He was out in Q2 yesterday [Saturday], but it was not a drama, because he builds this confidence. These are things that you cannot measure, really.

“It's nice to see that he managed the tyres really well today [Sunday], and then could pass some people. So, I think, all in all, when you put all this together, then the results come.”