What Aston Martin must do to keep Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel, AMR22 — Photo: © LAT Images

Aston Martin

What Aston Martin must do to keep Vettel

Aston Martin slipped to seventh in the constructors' standings last season

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Wednesday 16 February 2022 17:30

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Sebastian Vettel has conceded his interest in winning will "determine what the future brings" in F1.

The German joined Aston Martin ahead of the 2021 season to spearhead the team's charge up the grid as owner Lawrence Stroll oversees the expansion from plucky underdogs to a mighty manufacturer.

Things did not go to plan, however, as a late regulatory change seemed to hit Aston Martin harder than its rivals and with results tailing off from its 2020 form, the team slipped to seventh in the standings.

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Stroll has targetted a title tilt in the middle of the decade as he focuses on the improvement at the Silverstone factory.

Asked, though, what would keep Vettel at the team in the meantime, the four-time champion replied: "The thing is, I think I have had a while now in the sport and I have had good years and not so good years.

"I had good years, great years with a very competitive car and a competitive team.

"Now, no doubt, I am in a very competitive team, the team spirit is great and the goal is clear, we want to progress and win.

"So ultimately, having had the path I have had so far, I am obviously interested in winning and that will determine what the future brings."

Vettel expecting a "very different" season with Aston Martin

F1 enters a new era this year with significant changes made to the cars in an attempt to create more exciting racing and Vettel has highlighted the excitement of the new machinery as a motivation for continuing in the sport.

"The new cars, at this stage, everybody is hoping to be at the top," he explained.

"I think the podium will still look the same this year. We hope we are in much better shape than last year.

"We have the ability this year to develop the car, we didn't do that last year for more than three-quarters of the season. It will be very different.

"Last year, we knew from the start it was going to be a long, difficult season so we hope for a better one."