A home race, potentially a wet race, AMR24 updates, new parts, an anniversary and an F1 debut. There's lots for Team Principal Mike Krack to discuss in Montréal.
Formula One takes a short break from European competition this weekend with its annual visit to Montréal and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The circuit is a classically old-school venue. It's high-speed, the walls are always close and, despite a recent resurfacing, it's liable to be bumpy.
It's also Lance’s home race, the first of three for the team with the Spanish and British Grands Prix to follow shortly. We've got a job to do optimising our recent updates – if the weather cooperates this weekend – and have Jak Crawford joining us in the garage, fresh from his debut F1 test. There's plenty for Mike to mull.
This is Mike on…
Our first home race of the season
"It seems greedy, but we really do have a run of three home races across the next five weeks, starting here in Montréal. Lance's home race – Lawrence's too – is important for all of us, and it's nice feeling the huge wave of support for them and, by association, for us this weekend.
"You feel it immediately: it's at the airport, at the hotel check-in. Last year this was one of the races where we came closest to victory. It's going to be a bit more difficult this year, but with weather around, there may be opportunities for points. We also can't wait to hear the roar of Fernando's fans in Spain, and then of course our passionate home support at the British Grand Prix."
Updates
"We have a new low-drag lower rear wing this weekend to take advantage of the long straights. The DRS has been a strength for us this year. Obviously, if it's raining then there’s no DRS – but last year in the rain Fernando qualified P3, which became P2, so we're not worried about the potential for a wet race."
The weather in Montréal
"We introduced an update at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix and our practice programme this weekend is designed to help us understand it better – but looking at the forecast, it might be tough to get a significant return.
"What happens when the weekend is wet? The focus moves onto the drivers, but also onto the operation. It sounds simple but we have to make sure the right tyres are on the car at the right time, the drivers need that sixth sense to steer clear of trouble, look for opportunistic moves around Safety Cars and things like that. Finding the grip will be challenging because the track has been completely resurfaced and is a big unknown – but again, it's an opportunity."
An anniversary
"Last week we celebrated the anniversary of moving into our new AMR Technology Campus. We expected it to give us a lot, though the reality is that it's given us even more than we expected. Everyone is close at hand, communication is easier, facilities are better, there’s lots of natural light, and it's just a better way of working.
"Of course, the place is still changing. We’re making tweaks, rearranging offices, getting ourselves comfortable. Buildings Two and Three will be opening soon and we'll have the wind tunnel up and running shortly. I'm really looking forward to the expansion. It'll give people more space, allow them to have greater independence and the ability to do their own thing."
Igniting the power within
"On that subject. This week, we've teamed up with our partner, BOSS, to celebrate individuality in F1 and how our people are unlocking their full potential to push the boundaries – so I'm being asked lots of questions about how the idea of individuality meshes with the requirements of a team environment. It's actually quite nice to get thrown this sort of question because it obliges you to think about things you might otherwise simply take for granted.
"In the context of the team, individuality isn't a particularly complicated concept. If we have 58 operational staff at the race track, the goal is to make best use of those 58 brains and the ones supporting remotely. It isn't about me micromanaging them, or them executing the instructions I hand down.
"To make best use of people, you have to genuinely value them, give them space, give them the security of understanding it’s OK to take risks – because without opening the door to risk, we're never going to get to the front in F1. Create this atmosphere, and everyone's motivation receives a boost – but it only works if that safe, supportive environment is in place, and everyone feels their contribution is making a difference. This is the job for myself and the other senior leaders."
Jak Crawford
"As I was heading for Montréal, Jak Crawford was going the other way to Austria for his first test in an F1 car. Jak was at the Red Bull Ring to drive the AMR22. I was getting reports across the day from Robert [Sattler, Evolution Programme Director] and it sounds like Jak had an excellent first day.
"He's in his second season of Formula 2 and it's the right time for him to get a taste of what an F1 car is like, what he needs to focus on and what he has to do to develop his skillset to get the most from it. He's been in the simulator as well and will be joining us this weekend in Canada. He'll be able to spend time in the engineering office, listen to the briefings and debriefs.
"We didn't give him that sort of access when he was with us in Miami, where everything was new, because we didn't want to overload him – but now it makes much more sense, especially as Felipe [Drugovich] is away preparing for Le Mans. Having driven an F1 car, Jak will have more of a feel for how the car behaves, how the tyres work. It will help him understand what Lance and Fernando are saying – and perhaps contribute his own observations of what he sees on track."
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