Aston Martin hits back at media: “Stop asking our drivers uncomfortable questions”. F1 | Aston Martin defends drivers from awkward questions after Shanghai.

Aston against everyone

A new chapter has been added to the ongoing saga surrounding the Aston Martin team at the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Despite facing major issues with the power unit, extreme vibrations forcing the drivers to lift their hands off the steering wheel, voluntary retirements from races for safety reasons, and enormous investments that have yet to translate into concrete on-track results, the Silverstone-based team has now decided to open a new front: that with the journalists.

Speaking to the media in China during the Shanghai Grand Prix weekend, former team principal Mike Krack, now serving as Chief Trackside Officer, pointed the finger at journalists who, according to him, have been asking “uncomfortable and inappropriate” questions to the team’s drivers, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Krack’s stance may leave some observers puzzled, as it seems almost inevitable – given the challenging situation Aston Martin is facing – to ask the drivers what they think about everything happening within the team and about the performance of the AMR26.

Krack’s complaint about the media

At the end of a post-race chat with journalists, Mike Krack was asked whether Adrian Newey was giving extra attention to his relationship with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll to explain what was happening. “I’m glad you asked me that question,” Mike Krack replied to the journalist, “because this is the most difficult situation for the drivers. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I hope this also serves as an appeal to you. The drivers can’t do anything about this. They are very exposed and receive uncomfortable questions. I’ve also heard complaints that Lance [Stroll] was not responding much. We need to understand the situation: competitive sport is an emotional matter. We all do it out of passion, and we don’t want arguments behind closed doors. The drivers are investing a lot of energy into this project and are often asked questions that are not appropriate. You can say they are professionals, but they are also human beings. Please help us understand that. At the moment, it is a difficult situation, but I think that if we showed a little more consideration for the drivers, it would help all of us,” Mike Krack concluded.

The “honeymoon period” for the new-look Aston Martin project seems to have ended abruptly. Whether the media heeds Mike Krack’s appeal remains to be seen, but in the high-stakes world of Formula 1, silence is rarely an option when results fail to meet expectations. The next few races will be a true test of the team’s resilience, both on the asphalt and in the press room.