Vettel going to throw himself into Racing Point project

Sebastian Vettel prepares to swap red for green and join Aston Martin next season – and the four-time champion has explained how he will throw himself into the challenge with his new team.

Vettel signed a deal through 2021 “and beyond” with Racing Point – which will rebrand as Aston Martin for 2021 – to replace the outgoing Sergio Perez, and speaking at Imola last week he said he was preparing himself for the work that will be needed to get used to the workings at the Silverstone-based squad.

“I think obviously ’21 should be a similar in terms of the cars to this year but I think it will be a big challenge to get on top of everything, so… come January, February, I’m going to throw myself into the project and try to make sure I have understood all the things that are there to be understood before the driving, the testing and the racing starts,” he said.

Can Vettel make Racing Point (Aston Martin) a consistent front-runner?

“I don’t think there’s one particular thing to be honest, or one particular person to know. I think it will be getting to know the whole team and rhythm they’re working on – trying to establish the differences – and trying to contribute to make things better.”

Vettel will leave Ferrari at the end of this year after six seasons with the Maranello team, having started 114 races for them and won only 14. Like Fernando Alonso, who he replaced at Ferrari, the Ferrari car was inferior to the Mercedes in every way, except last year when they ran an illegal engine and won a few races. Hence, the results were never there for the German and this year he is obviously not getting the latest updates for fear he will take Ferrari secrets to Racing Point.

“Well I think in the end it’s just like a relationship,” he said. “So I think I will miss the people, I think, obviously the spirit, I think the idea, Ferrari, the legend; I’ve obviously been a fan since I was a small child being inspired by Michael [Schumacher].

“But I think when you are part of it then you get to know the people, you get to see behind the scenes, so to say, and I think it’s going to be the people – but the good news is I will still see some of them regularly next year even if it’s in a different way.”

His future teammate Stroll needs a hug

Lance Stroll ‘needs a hug’ after a shocking run of races dented his confidence, according to Racing Point Technical Director Andrew Green.

The Canadian finished on the podium at Monza but his form line since then reads DNF, DNF, DNF, and 13th, with no start in the Nurburgring race due to contracting COVID-19.