Sebastian Vettel can enjoy his “second spring” as a Formula 1 driver with a “whole team that wants him” at Aston Martin.
Those are the words of Andy Green, Head of Technology at Racing Point, who will be rebranded as Aston Martin next year when Vettel joins them from Ferrari.
The four-time former World Champion has been enduring a dreadful last season at Ferrari, which began in the worst fashion when he was told his contract would not be extended before the campaign had even got under way.
After months of speculation about his future, the German was confirmed to be taking Sergio Perez’s seat alongside Racing Point team owner’s son Lance Stroll for 2021.
Green, in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, believes the welcome Vettel will feel with the Silverstone-based constructor can enable him to rediscover his form after a mistake-riddled campaign in which he currently sits a lowly 13th in the drivers’ World Championship.
“We are all looking forward to him,” said Green. “Everyone knows what a good racing driver he is. Nobody forgets how to drive a car fast. You just have to have the right car and the right people around you to do your job.
“Obviously he’s having problems right now. We can offer what he needs to return to his old form. The whole team wants him. He will feel that.
“We know he can bring us as much as we can for him. Everyone in the team is looking forward to January until we can finally work with him. With us, he can experience his second spring.”
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Asked if Vettel’s current problems are more psychological or related to a car that doesn’t suit his driving style, Green replied: “I would say a combination of both. It’s difficult to judge what percentage one or the other has.
“With us, he will get the people and the tools to return to the level we know and expect from him. And it will help us a lot.
“If he just opens the door to the factory, it will increase the motivation of every single employee. When a multiple World Champion gets into one of our cars, it’s also an appreciation of the people who work here.
“We deserve it. We were facing bankruptcy 18 months ago. This team almost didn’t exist anymore. And now a world champion wants to drive for us.”
On what Vettel will bring to the team on a practical level, Green added: “Sebastian will need a few days in the simulator to get a good impression of what to expect and where the journey with us is going.
“Then there is still time to tell us what he wants from this car and where we can or must find time. We can adapt our work to his needs. That’s what makes it so exciting.
“We haven’t had a driver change for a long time, certainly not on this scale. Perez has been with us forever. Our entire experience builds on this. With Vettel, a completely different kind of experience and ideas will come, about how we have to develop and prepare our car.”
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