Words of praise for Vettel: "He hasn't forgotten how to drive fast"

2021 marks the end of an era for Sebastian Vettel. It was his dream to follow in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher and become world champion with Ferrari, but in the end it didn't work out. It resulted in a painful break with the team. But there is light on the horizon for the German, in the form of Aston Martin.

Next year, Vettel will go to the team, which this year drives under the name of Racing Point. While Ferrari is letting the four-time world champion go, Aston Martin welcomes him with open arms.

Peak not yet passed

Racing Point team boss Otmar Szafnauer looks forward to the arrival of Vettel, and is confident that he will find his way back to success. "Seb is now 33 years old, and we shouldn't forget that Formula 1 drivers have not yet reached their peak at this age. They are even in top form or still improving," he said in the In the Fast Lane podcast of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

"I don't think he has forgotten how to be fast in a Formula One car. He is a four-time world champion with a great work ethic, and he knows what it takes to become a world champion. We look forward to learning from him," says Szafnauer.

Mental challenge

As far as the current form of the German is concerned, Szafnauer thinks that this has mainly a mental cause. "In addition to the physical challenge, there is also an enormous mental challenge. It's 99 percent in your head."

"If we manage to get him mentally in the right shape, with the way we work and the way we treat our drivers, he may not feel as much pressure as with Ferrari. Then he'll be able to show what he's capable of, as he's proven before. Then we'll have a great pair of drivers with a young talent who can learn from a four-time world champion," said Szafnauer.