Rumor: Vettel could make a shock return to Aston Martin (Update)

This rumor is downgraded to ‘false’ after the team confirmed that reserve driver Felipe Drugovich would be the man called upon if Stroll is unable to race, not Vettel.

by Mark Cipolloni

Aston Martin have refused to rule out the possibility of Sebastian Vettel making a shock comeback at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix if Lance Stroll’s wrist injury is not healed enough.

Reserve driver Felipe Drugovich tested the car in Bahrain, but it’s questionable whether the team feels the former F2 champion is ready to do an actual F1 race.

But he refused to say whether Vettel, who retired at the end of last season, had expressed an interest in being a stand-in.

Krack told the media in Bahrain during preseason testing, “Plan A” was for Stroll to recover in time for next weekend’s race.

He added: “Plan B we will speak about next week.”

Krack said: “I have had a couple of phone calls with Sebastian but this has been also the case last year and will continue in the future.”

Asked whether Vettel had said he was prepared to come back in the event Aston Martin needed a driver to substitute for Stroll, Krack said: “I will not tell you.”

“First our plan is to have Lance in the car and then we continue to see,” he said, adding: “You can ask me five times, we have not made a final decision.”

“Don’t forget one thing – he had a very thorough plan in mind for his retirement, and this is something you have to respect,” Krack said. “Let’s see what happens.”