Sebastian Vettel rules out Aston Martin "shortcut" of ditching 2021 development

Aston Martin

Vettel rules out Aston Martin "shortcut" of ditching 2021 development

Vettel is certain lessons can still be learned this year

Sam Hall

Thursday 6 May 2021 17:40

Sebastian Vettel does not believe Aston Martin will steal a march on the field by ditching its 2021 development in order to focus on next year's regulations.

Aston Martin was one of the teams to suffer more from the aerodynamic changes over the winter than most, largely due to its low-rake design concept.

As Racing Point last year the team finished fourth in the constructors' standings, which could have been third but for being handed a 15-point penalty for running illegal rear brake ducts.

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But as Aston Martin this season, the team has collected just five points and is already 48 behind third-placed McLaren.

Asked if the team was tempted to "forget" developing further for the current season, Vettel replied: “Well, not just now but generally in life, I don't think that shortcuts will help you a great deal.

"I think there are so many things that we can still learn and we can still have a better understanding of as a team so I think it would be a wasted opportunity now. “The question is now how you measure the opportunity, whether you measure it in podiums, points and wins or in a different currency.

“I think for us, as a team, we can still improve on a lot of small things but in the end, it is always these small things that make the difference and lead to perfection.

“Even if we are not racing in the positions we would love to, I think it is still time well spent.”

At Portimão, Aston Martin gave Lance Stroll the only set of upgraded parts available - relating to the floor - due to his higher standing in the drivers' championship compared to Vettel.

Vettel will now receive the upgrades for this weekend's Spanish GP, and although confident they are a step in the right direction, he added: "In the end, it is all relative.

"I don’t know what other teams are doing, whether they are bringing updates here or not.

“Historically, Barcelona has always been a circuit where people always bring updates but obviously, we have got a slightly different calendar now so I’m looking forward to finding out.”