Formula One F1 - Tuscan Grand Prix - Mugello, Scarperia e San Piero, Italy - Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel ahead of the Tuscan Grand Prix REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini
Sebastian Vettel to Aston Martin seemed a long time in the making and it finally materialized on the 10th of September. Signing a 4-time World Champion is definitely a show of intent by the Silverstone-based outfit.
But the F1 managing director and ex-Ferrari boss, Ross Brawn, feels that with the signing of Vettel come loads of expectations.
According to Brawn, it is a “bold move from Racing Point to sign Sebastian Vettel.” Brawn referred to it as, “A big statement from Lawrence Stroll,” who is the owner of the team.
Giving his take on the signing of Vettel, Brawn said, “Vettel is a proven champion and I think, still has the fight in him. Drafting in someone of his stature will help lift everyone inside the team, whose aspirations are now significantly higher.
“His experience will be invaluable. But it is now putting the team on a different level and the results will need to start matching Lawrence Stroll’s ambition.”
With the team’s ambitions sky high, Vettel could be under immense pressure to deliver from the get-go. And that will be difficult considering the current season he’s having.
He might need a few races to get his mojo back because his final season with the Scuderia seems to have taken a lot out of him. Undoubtedly, the whole world would love to see Vettel get back to his best and tussle with the Mercedes at the front of the grid.
Vettel’s inclusion came at the cost of Sergio Perez, who will leave the team after 7 long years. While many wonder what the Mexican’s next move will be, Brawn feels that he deserves to stay in F1.
He said, “Sergio Perez now finds himself on the move after a very long period of time with this team. He must have mixed emotions.
“However, he’s a very fast racer who is driving at his peak right now and deserves a place on next year’s grid. Hopefully, he can find the right opportunity and start a new adventure.”
Nevertheless, before both Vettel and Perez say their final goodbyes, they still have 8 races to drive with their current teams. With the next race in Sochi, on the 27th of September, the duo would be aiming to finish on a high, as the beginning of the end nears for them at their current teams.