Sebastian Vettel and Aston Martin are currently discussing extending his stay at the Silverstone-based side beyond the end of 2022, team principal Mike Krack has said.
The German joined Aston Martin with high hopes from Ferrari in 2021, but aside from his podium as last year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the relationship hasn’t seen much success.
And, with Aston Martin’s 2022 challenger being one of the most uncompetitive cars on the Formula 1 grid, there arguably isn’t much incentive for Vettel to extend his stay with the team into 2023.
However, Krack has revealed that the four-time world champion is in active talks with Aston Martin about signing a new deal that will keep him at the team next year and potentially beyond 2023.
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“Well, we are in talks,” Krack replied when asked in an interview with Formula1.com about Vettel’s future at the team.
He went on to reiterate his desire to keep the former Red Bull driver at Aston Martin in 2023, and described the German as “very positive” despite the team’s stuttering start to the season.
“Sebastian is very, very positive, very constructive, so from that point of view, I really hope that we can continue.”
Krack previously said he is hopeful that Vettel will show faith in Lawrence Stroll’s project and stay racing with Aston Martin in 2023, as opposed to giving up his seat for another driver who would ultimately reap the fruits of the Canadian billionaire’s investment.
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“Also, maybe the investment that he has made now over two years, he should also maybe be in a position to get something from it and not hand it to someone else later,” he added.
“But we’re confident that we can make this a success with the talks that we are having.”
Having scored 15 points so far this season, Vettel sits 14th in the Drivers’ Standings, with his team-mate Lance Stroll down in 19th on just three points.
Meanwhile, Aston Martin are ninth in the Constructors’ Standings on 18 points – nine points adrift of eighth-placed Scuderia AlphaTauri.