Vettel positive: "I was not frustrated"

Sebastian Vettel has been driving for the Aston Martin team since the start of the 2021 F1 season. The German didn't get any further than two P15 finishes and hopes to do better in Portugal. Nevertheless, the driver is also realistic.

The four-time world champion was at Red Bull between 2009 and 2014 and went through a very successful period there. When he made the switch to Ferrari in 2015, expectations were high, but he could not live up to them. In the six seasons, he was under contract to Ferrari, Vettel saw a better Mercedes each time.

Tough season for Vettel

Last season, Vettel also struggled. Speaking to AS however, he states that he always remained calm. "I wasn't frustrated. I don't think it would have done me much good, and I'm very happy where I am," says Vettel, who hopes to perform with Aston Martin. "As for the results, I'm here to win. It's not much to drive for eighth place, or 15th, when you have the chance to win. But if top-10 today is our maximum achievable goal, then I have to drive to achieve that."

The German driver has a clear end goal in sight. "I've been at the front many times and I know what it's like to enjoy it. I think it's different when you're just starting out. You've never raced at the front and you can really enjoy fifth place. With my experience, I know we are where we are for a number of reasons and it's not worth complaining about. It's worth making progress."