After coming seventh in the constructors’ championship last season, Aston Martin were likely in shock at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, after new signing Fernando Alonso claimed a podium for the Silverstone-based team.
Aston Martin are certainly not going to be finishing seventh this season, with the British side having already proven that they have what it takes to push the likes of Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes.
After their glamorous performance at the Bahrain International Circuit, it would come as no shock that retired four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel was the first to congratulate the side, who he departed at the end of last season.
It was revealed by Alonso’s chief mechanic Mikey Brown – who used to be Vettel’s number one – that the German text him after the race, to congratulate his former side.
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“We just got on well – he got on well with everyone, not just me,” Brown told the PitStop podcast.
“He texted me on Sunday, after the race, and [he] was so happy for us, you know, [which] he didn’t have to do?
“It was just nice to hear from him. [Him] sending a message and base it to me and all the boys, to say how happy he was for us, and so good to see us back up there.”
Given that Aston Martin have such a competitive car compared to recent years, many have questioned if Vettel regrets retiring when he did, given that had he stayed, then perhaps it would’ve been him on the podium in Bahrain.
There was even speculation ahead of the Bahrain GP that the German had offered his services to replace Lance Stroll, who was initially a doubt following his cycling crash in Spain.
Obviously, Stroll ended up competing himself and claimed sixth, with Brown revealing that Vettel remains “happy” as a retired driver.
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“Yeah, it’s just timing, isn’t it? It’s just timing,” answered Brown, when asked if Vettel wishes he’d opted against retiring.
“But, you know, he’s happy, he’s at home, doing what he wanted to with his kids. He ended on a good note, I think. We had a good Abu Dhabi [Grand Prix].
“That’s motorsport, isn’t it? You never know what car you’re going to get from one year to another.”