Three races separate Sebastian Vettel and his new team, Aston Martin F1, for the next year. It was announced close to mid-September that the four-time World champion would move to the Silverstone-based outfit for 2021.

It signals the team’s intent to make further progress up the field. This includes competing with Red Bull and, on occasion, Mercedes as well.

If we are to believe Vettel’s latest comments, he may not be in his new team’s car until next year’s pre-season. However, the German driver is relaxed, considering there is still work and preparation to be done before the new season gets underway.

Sebastian Vettel thinks he can still get decent “running” in one and a half days

Vettel is quoted as saying, “Well, contract details are contract details, and well I guess the logical one to look forward to is next year. And in terms of testing, I guess what I hear from the moment there will be one test prior to the season. And that will be the first time I will be in the new car.”

Although winter testing in Bahrain would be limited this time around, Vettel believes he will still get some decent experience out of it. And that what is important is the preparation leading into the first race, come March 2021.

The 33-year-old German added and said, “Well concern, no. I think if it happens to be that, then that’s what it is. Over the years, I think, you get used to very little track time in making most of the track time.

“Even if one and a half days does not sound like a lot, still you can get some decent running. I think it’s the same for all of us, and actually you can do a lot of stuff beforehand nowadays.

“So, I guess the key will be the preparation leading into the test and then leading to the first race,” concluded Vettel.

Vettel will leave Ferrari after spending six years with the team

For a brief period of time, no one had envisioned Vettel staying in the sport. A sabbatical was bring considered an option, especially after so many teams had played their moves and confirmed their drivers’ lineups for 2021.

Undoubtedly, his time at Ferrari has recently become strained with car difficulties and poor results on the track. With Aston Martin, however, Vettel has the opportunity to start afresh and it will be fascinating to see how he gets on with his new team.