Sebastian Vettel fuelled by "bitter frustration" after wretched start with Aston Martin

Aston Martin

Vettel fuelled by "bitter frustration" after wretched start with Aston Martin

Vettel has yet to score a point with Aston Martin

Ian Parkes

Saturday 24 April 2021 09:45

Sebastian Vettel is refusing to 'beat himself up' and is instead using his "bitter frustration" following his wretched start to life with Aston Martin to drive himself on, according to team principal Otmar Szafnauer.

Vettel has so far endured a catalogue of woe since joining Aston Martin from Ferrari over the winter that began in pre-season testing when a gearbox issue confined him to the garage for all but 10 laps on his first day in the AMR21.

With only one-and-a-half-days of testing per driver, it meant Vettel was short of seat time going into the first race in Bahrain where he started last after a penalty and finished 15th in a race in which he was further penalised for a collision with Esteban Ocon.

Article continues under video

In Imola, Vettel was forced to start from the pitlane after the team failed to repair in time brakes that had overheated on their way to the grid.

A 10-second stop-go penalty was later handed out as the tyres had not been re-fitted at the five-minute pre-race warning, while there was also a gearbox issue to contend with during the event.

Such a sorry tale would affect many drivers, but Szafnauer said: "I think he's fine.

"I know he has very high expectations of himself, and he will work tirelessly to get better and move up that learning curve.

"He's not beating himself up, so to speak. He'll take that bitter frustration and be even more determined to get up to speed quickly.

"It was not his fault at all that we, unfortunately, burned his rear-brake ducts, the cake tins, and it was so close to actually replacing them on the grid without having to start in the pitlane, and then the penalty.

"After that, he had no chance really, and that wasn't his fault."

Szafnauer has confirmed the team is planning to deliver upgrades for next month's Spanish Grand Prix in the hope of making a step forward.

"We will bring some upgrades, but not in Portugal, soon thereafter," added Szafnauer.

"The next race [in Portugal] it will be new cake tins and brake ducts at the rear."