Aston Martin facing "true test" of its potential - Vettel

Sebastian Vettel believes Aston Martin faces a "true test" of its potential this season following the launch of its new AMR22.

The team struggled last year after being hampered by late changes to the aerodynamic regulations for 2021 which resulted in the team slipping to seventh in the constructors' standings.

One of the Silverstone-based outfit's strengths in previous guises has been its ability to punch above its weight with a 'lean and mean operation'.

When this was put to Vettel, the German quipped: "If you say the past was lean and mean, I hope that the present is not fat and nice."

Addressing personnel changes at base, the most significant being the departure of Otmar Szafnauer as team principal and the hiring of Mike Krack in his place, Vettel added: "I think the truth is the team is growing.

"Having a shuffle in management is always a bit of a hiccup or shake up and it will take time to overcome.

"Hopefully we will manage to pull together and despite growing in size, becoming leaner or more efficient in our processes.

"I think this year will be a true test for us and we will see how good we are because last year, we didn't show anything because we didn't focus on bringing any updates.

"Whereas this year it is all about this year's cars, this year's generation of cars and we will be able to show what we can produce, and we should be measured based on that."

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