Aston Martin reveal Vettel contract deadline "not far off"

Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer has confirmed the deadline to extend Sebastian Vettel's F1 contract is now "not far off".

Vettel joined Aston Martin from Ferrari over the winter and is widely expected to remain with the team into the new aerodynamic era in 2022.

Although much of the driver transfer focus rests on George Russell and Mercedes, Szafnauer said the "milestone" is approaching for his team to announce its plans.

“We have a process that we go through in our contracts," said Szafnauer.

"Although I don’t like to speak about the details, there are certain timing milestones and those are coming up within the next couple of weeks and once we pass those I’m sure we will make the requisite announcements.”

Pressed on what the "process" entails, he explained: “Without going into details that we don’t speak about, it’s nothing complicated and it’s not conditional upon anything.

“It’s just timing in the contract as to when we have to have the negotiations signed and move on. It’s that simple.

“It’s just a time window when the two of us discuss the future. There is a window and a deadline and that is not far off.”

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