Aston Martin appoint BMW boss Krack as new F1 team principal

Krack replaces former team principal and chief executive officer Otmar Szafnauer in the role after the 57-year-old left his long-held position with immediate effect last week. 

In his over-arching leadership role, Krack was entrusted with heading BMW’s Formula E, GT and IMSA programmes, as well as its planned expansion into the new LMDh formula for IMSA and the World Endurance Championship. 

"It is a thrill and an honour to have been appointed to the position of Team Principal of Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team, and I am very grateful to Lawrence [Stroll] and Martin [Whitmarsh] for giving me such a fantastic opportunity,” said Krack. 

"Aston Martin is one of the greatest automotive brands in the world, and to have been asked to play a leading role in delivering the on-track Formula One success that such an illustrious name so richly deserves is a challenge that I plan to embrace with energy and enthusiasm.”

Krack began his career with BMW in 1998 and had spells at Sauber, Kolles, Hitech Racing and Porsche, before rejoining BMW in 2014. 

He also worked closely with current Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel during his spell as a BMW-Sauber engineer between 2006 and 2007. 

He is set to report to newly-appointed group chief executive officer Martin Whitmarsh and team owner Lawrence Stroll.

"I have been working in motorsport for over 20 years, and worked in Formula One with Seb Vettel in 2006 and 2007 when I was a BMW-Sauber engineer and he was the team's test driver,” Krack added. 

"I have huge respect for his speed and ability, and it will be fantastic to be reunited with him. Lance Stroll is a seriously fast and talented driver, too, with 100 Grands Prix starts to his name, and I am very much looking forward to working closely with him.

"Team Silverstone has always impressed me. It is full of talented people and real racers. That racer's culture and values are what is required to succeed in motorsport - I know that and my new colleagues at Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team know it, too. We will work incredibly hard. We want to win. Together, we will."