Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has confirmed he and Sebastian Vettel are in talks over a new contract, which has made him feel “confident” the four-time former World Champion could continue with them next season.
Krack has made no secret of his desire to keep Vettel on a long-term basis, with the driver’s plans beyond his current contract, which is due to expire at the end of the year, uncertain as he weighs up his future in the sport.
Vettel has also said previously his main motivation for staying in Formula 1 is to compete for race victories again after his departure from Ferrari, but Aston Martin are currently languishing towards the back of the field – ranking ninth out of 10 teams at this halfway point of the season.
But the team are undergoing a significant expansion process, with a hiring spree having taken place as well as a new factory being under construction, with team owner Lawrence Stroll harbouring high hopes for the team’s medium-term future.
The team’s hierarchy are currently trying to keep Vettel at Aston Martin beyond the end of the year – and Krack explained this project, in which he has been a key part, could bear fruit over time.
“We are in talks,” said Krack, speaking to Formula1.com. “Sebastian is very positive, very constructive, so from that point of view I really hope we can continue.
We don’t think we’ll ever bee over this helmet. 💛🐝 pic.twitter.com/IBcext3Ilh
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) July 14, 2022
“Also, maybe the investment 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. But we are confident we can make this a success with the talks we are having.”
The lack of competitiveness for Aston Martin has been a significant concern though, falling backwards in the pecking order amid Formula 1’s new regulations compared to last year.
The AMR22 has already undergone significant upgrades as they try to pull their way back up the field, but they are yet to make a significant step and get into the points on a regular basis.
But despite their problems, Krack has heaped praise on both of his drivers for how they have tried to help the team through their lean spell.
“I think both drivers, we really have to say hats off, how they cope with it, how constructive they still are with us,” he said.
“There is no bad word, nothing at all. We try to do this together, try to get out…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at News – PlanetF1…