“Nobody cares about that, and after all, we’re in Formula One here and he’s also earning a lot of money. Having once cruised around circuits in a Red Bull designed to eke the most out of … … Four-time world champion Vettel has joined the Aston Martin squad following its rebrand for the 2021 season as the British manufacturer returns to F1 after over 60 years away. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Here’s the story of his very short time at motorsport’s pinnacle. "It's probably not the start of the season that we wanted but I think the next couple of races will be very good for us to calm things down. Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll wants them to be world champions. But know the whole story. Back in 1993 though, Marco Apicella was an F1 driver for just 800m before a first corner fracas ended his career. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Vettel suffered a woeful weekend at the 2021 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix continuing a streak of poor performances stretching back to the 2018 German Grand Prix when he crashed out of the lead. Vettel's Aston Martin … Vettel will have the chance to put his difficult Aston Martin debut in the rear-view mirror at the Made in Italy and Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, round 2 of the 2021 Formula 1 season. Formula One racing driver Sebastian Vettel joined the Aston Martin team for 2021, and a new video shows the champion driving an Aston DBX SUV. But it could have been so different, says Nigel Roebuck. Kimi Raikkonen's emergence as a Formula 1 star in his rookie campaign remains one of the legendary storylines from 2001, but his exploits had an unwanted impact on his Sauber teammate's own prospects. This is a huge problem and it will take time. But any hopes of developing its W12 to surpass Red Bull's RB16B in terms of outright speed could not have come at a worse time. Mar.29 - Aston Martin's 2021 car is "not that good", according to rival AlphaTauri's team boss Franz Tost. "We will see how quickly we can fix them but I'm not at home in the car. And the ex-F1 driver reckons Vettel has to knuckle down after a miserable season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. For many, many years Formula 1 has strived to do and to be better on all fronts. Former world champion Sebastian Vettel has been told “nobody cares” after an ugly flop with his new team Aston Martin. Last year was the German’s worst season in F1, and Lawrence Stroll’s ambitious Aston Martin project the only lifeline he had. It’s been something of a nightmare start to Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin career, with the German recording the fewest laps of any race driver at pre-season testing – while his first race weekend in Bahrain was blighted by a number of errors. Is Formula 1 as good as it has ever been now? Vettel and team-mate Lance Stroll took part in the launch of the team’s new Aston Martin AMR21 F1 car on Wednesday before hitting the track on Thursday at Silverstone. (CNN)Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will remain in Formula One after signing a deal with the Racing Point team, which will rebrand itself as Aston Martin from next season. Sebastian Vettel visited the headquarters of his new Formula 1 team for the first time this week, according to multiple media sources. He has to clean up with his team-mate now and the rest will come on its own even if the Aston Martin doesn’t turn into a winning car this year.”. There's a lot of things that are fighting me so that I can't really focus on driving. And the ex-F1 driver reckons Vettel has to knuckle down after a miserable season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. Vettel explained the issues he's facing go far beyond him getting used to a different car, having moved to the Mercedes-powered team after five seasons at Ferrari. The clues Aston Martin has given about Vettel's new car Matt Somerfield 2/10/2021 Thousands of migrant children are trying to enter the US, renewing a fight in Washington. The four-time world champion qualified 18th in Bahrain after encountering double yellow flags on his final Q1 hotlap but was demoted to last on the grid after stewards decided he hadn't respected the second yellow sector. Aston Martin: Vettel can help bring out the best in Stroll; Aston Martin set for February F1 livery and car launch; A development freeze and token system was introduced last year by the FIA in order to help cut costs and help bridge the gap to the all-new car that was supported to first come in 2021 but has now been delayed until 2022. "I'm extremely proud to say that I will become an Aston Martin driver in 2021. Sebastian Vettel has signed to join Racing Point to spearhead their new Aston Martin era in a move that prolongs the four-time world champion's Formula 1 career into 2021. he added. How Formula 1's Bargeboards Became So Complicated, My Job in F1: Emma | Aero Performance Engineer, Norris: McLaren "not miles away" from Mercedes and Red Bull, Gasly: AlphaTauri can fight McLaren, Ferrari on all tracks, McLaren: Two quick drivers ‘key’ to F1 resurgence, Vettel reveals lockdown internship in organic farming, The stark challenges Vettel’s new start now faces, The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture, Hulkenberg joins Aston Martin F1 as reserve driver, Vettel should have taken a year off in 2021 - Marko, Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace. Sebastian Vettel says getting to know his Aston Martin Formula 1 team better, and getting on top of its steering characteristics, are two areas he needs to improve most. The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Comments are subject to our community guidelines, which can be viewed, Sebastian Vettel admitted he doesn't feel at home in his Aston Martin yet, Ralf Schumacher thinks Sebastian Vettel needs to stop 'whining' about the car, Aston Martin had a miserable first race of the season in Bahrain, Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel looks forward to Formula 1 return, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Tyson Otto tottodtsport news.com.au April 6, 2021 10:05pm "I would probably say less than half as there's so many things going on still that break the rhythm and make it quite difficult in terms of feeling the car and feeling what I need to do to drive fast, so there's still a lot to do," the German explained. The German found himself out of the car earlier than planned due to a power unit problem as Day Three in Bahrain started to draw to a close. Aston Martin Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel has admitted he's 'not at home' in his new car, following a troubled Bahrain Grand Prix with his new team. He then received a 10 second penalty for running into the back of Alpine's Esteban Ocon, which put paid to his chances of scoring points on his Aston Martin debut as he came home in 15th. Four-time world champion Vettel switched to Aston Martin this year after six seasons with Ferrari. Twenty years on from his first F1 podium at the Brazilian GP, here's how Nick Heidfeld's career was chilled by the Iceman. Yes, Tony Stewart did run over a fellow driver, who was killed. “At the end of the day, Sebastian is an experienced racing driver and a multiple world champion. Obviously, I'm a bit sorry for such a bad weekend because I know how much preparation goes in before the start of the season." Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko believes Sebastian Vettel should have taken a year off from Formula 1 in 2021 instead of joining Aston Martin. Sebastian Vettel has admitted that his debut driving the Aston Martin car at 2021 pre-season testing didn't work out as well as they had hoped. With close competition, a growing fanbase, a stable political landscape and rules in place to encourage sustainability, 2021 is on course to provide an unexpected peak, Williams held out against the tide for many years but, as MARK GALLAGHER explains, the age of the owner-manager is long gone. Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Sebastian Vettel joining the former Racing Point outfit after being ousted by Ferrari had been billed as a return to a happy environment for the beleaguered quadruple world champion to thrive in.. running into the back of Alpine's Esteban Ocon, How low-rake F1 concept has put Aston Martin at a crossroads, Vettel not good at handling F1 pressure - Berger, NBC Sports reveals 2021 IndyCar telecast schedule, How sportscar ace Habsburg is speeding to save trees in 2021, NASCAR commentators: NBC and Fox commentary teams for 2021, How to make a huge impact in your one and only F1 start, F1’s rake focus a "distraction" from real issues, says Brundle, Why Senna felt unstoppable at Donington in 1993, Schumacher: No reason Haas can’t fight for Q2 this year, Leclerc explains what he learned from Vettel as F1 teammates. From 20th Vettel made a solid start but started struggling with tyre wear earlier than his midfield rivals. View our online Press Pack. Max Verstappen lost out to Lewis Hamilton at the Bahrain Grand Prix by a tiny margin, slipping off the track just as victory was within his grasp. “But there were a lot of things that we learned that we need to address. Vettel's team-mate Lance Stroll finished in 10th place at last month's season opener. We will see how quickly we can fix them. When asked how far the team is from running at 100 percent, Vettel admitted it was "probably less than half" and he hoped solutions can be found quickly. There’s a lot of things that are fighting me so that I can’t really focus on driving. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. But Vettel struggled massively in Bahrain. But he failed to make it out of Q1 in the Middle East and finished a disappointing 15th place. The teams head to Imola for the second race on April 18. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. ", Hamilton warns Red Bull "could be ahead a lot more" in F1 battle, When a journeyman driver's F1 career lasted just 800m. Nikita Mazepin’s Formula 1 debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix lasted mere corners before he wiped himself out in a shunt, but his financial backing affords him a full season. Vettel and team-mate Lance Stroll took part in the launch of the team’s new Aston Martin AMR21 F1 car on Wednesday before hitting the track on Thursday at Silverstone. How Williams’ new structure adheres to a growing F1 trend, How Raikkonen's rapid rise stalled his teammate's F1 career climb, The nightmare timing that now hinders Mercedes, How Verstappen's Bahrain mistake can only make him stronger, How to become a NASCAR driver: where to start, sponsors and more, NASCAR’s Next Gen Cup car: What is it and why it is needed. I hope we can fix a lot of it very quickly.". "He's not unreasonable. SEBASTIAN VETTEL was told to stop 'whining' about his Aston Martin car by Ralf Schumacher. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes? I understand Sebastian's frustration. "I am pleased to finally share this exciting news about my future," Vettel said. Things went from bad … "On the other hand, it can only go up from here. The sources report that the former Ferrari driver was at Aston Martin's Silverstone factory Sebastian Vettel feels he is lacking "100 laps" of mileage at the wheel of his Aston Martin Formula 1 car after the conclusion of the pre-season test in Bahrain. Despite a compromised start Vettel said he felt good in his new environment and is optimistic Aston Martin can still have a strong 2021 season. Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton took victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix despite, for a change, not having the quickest car. Sebastian Vettel has finally been confirmed as a driver for the rebranded Aston Martin Racing Formula 1 team for the 2021 season. "Yeah very good, I feel really good. Schumacher, who won six F1 races during his decade-long F1 career and is brother of legend Michael, told Sport1.de: "The whining that he doesn’t feel the car has to stop. But despite that, Vettel’s new boss Otmar Szafnauer was confident it would all come good eventually for the four-time champion this season. Analysing all the key talking points as Sebastian Vettel's move from Ferrari to Aston Martin for the 2021 Formula 1 season is confirmed By Matt … This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Sebastian Vettel’s nightmare start to his Aston Martin career in Bahrain last weekend did nothing to stem the questions over what his role in Formula One now is, eight years after his last championship title. SEBASTIAN VETTEL was told to stop 'whining' about his Aston Martin car by Ralf Schumacher. PARIS — Sebastian Vettel is feeling optimistic about his new Formula One career with Aston Martin after turning the page on a miserable last season with Ferrari. "I don't feel at home in the car. Outgoing Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel is in discussions over a deal to join the Aston Martin Formula 1 team for the 2021 season, sources have indicated. Vettel's Aston Martin start was hampered by issues in pre-season testing, which restricted his mileage and opportunities to adjust to the AMR21. But the painful lesson from defeat can only help Verstappen come back even stronger. Sebastian Vettel: Green-fingered Aston Martin driver causes a buzz with ambassador role The German racer has joined a new initiative involving bees. There's no doubting Vettel's ability to dominate races from the front in the best car but Aston Martin is far from having a race-winning car in 2021. “I’m not at home in the car. As I said, we learned a lot of things so it's a lot of work ahead of us but it is what it is and we have to tackle it step-by-step. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) Speaking after Bahrain, Vettel admitted: “It’s been probably not the best weekend or the weekend we were looking for. Sebastian Vettel’s move to Aston Martin next season “has been substantially decided for some time”, according to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany steers his car during the third free practice at the Formula One Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Saturday, March 27, 2021. Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. When asked by Motorsport.com how frustrating his first race with Aston Martin had been, Vettel admitted he doesn't feel at home yet in his new car and said there are lots of issues his team needs to address. "It's probably not the weekend we were looking for but there's a lot of things that we learned in the race that we need to address," Vettel replied. How Do Drivers Stay Fit For F1 Grand Prix? Outgoing Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel is in discussions over a deal to join the Aston Martin Formula 1 team for the 2021 season, sources have indicated Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer has launched a vigorous defence of Sebastian Vettel in the wake of his wretched debut weekend for the team. Aston Martin have described the impact Sebastian Vettel is already having on the set-up of their car – despite being yet to drive it.. Aston Martin Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel has admitted he's "not at home" in his new car, following a troubled Bahrain Grand Prix with his new team. “I’m sorry for Sebastian. Vettel finished a miserable 15th in the Bahrain Grand Prix after starting from the back of the grid, while he also collected five penalty points on his licence for two separate infringements. "I obviously adapt to how the car wants to be driven but there's obviously a lot of things that add certain inconsistencies that don't help. We need to address them and try and fix them.". But we need to address them and try and fix them.”, Boris Johnson cancels pub plans but lockdown restrictions still ease at midnight, Newborn baby is found dead in Morrisons car park as cops finally locate mum, Harry arrives back in the UK for Phil's funeral without Meghan as Royals mourn, Harry 'will not wear military uniform at funeral' after losing honours, ©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. The stark challenges Vettel’s new start now faces; Vettel: Younger me would be panicking right now; Vettel lacking “100 laps” of Aston Martin test mileage; Vettel is heading into this first race weekend with Aston Martin in Bahrain off the back of a difficult pre-season testing run, which was especially hampered by reliability troubles.