Following the announcement of his retirement from Formula 1, Sebastian Vettel has suggested who his ideal replacement at Aston Martin would be.
“Well, obviously, I spoke to Lawrence yesterday and told him that I’m not going to continue”, Vettel said, as quoted by The Race.
“We did have a very, very brief chat about what might be next.
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“I do have my opinion. I think very highly of Mick. I’m not entirely objective because I’m very close to him, but I do think he’s a great driver and is a learner.”
Given the relationship between the two drivers, it is of little surprise that Vettel recommended Schumacher to the team.
In the event that Mick Schumacher is no longer considered a part of Ferrari’s plans – and thus dropped from the academy – Aston Martin could serve as a safety net for the 23-year-old.
There is no guarantee Aston Martin will take Vettel’s request into consideration when making their final decision.
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Despite his recent points finishes, Mick Schumacher has failed to match the efforts of teammate Kevin Magnussen and is still unconfirmed for next year.
“I don’t know. It’s not my decision. If I’m asked [about the situation], I will give my opinion and not hold back. But in the end, the team will have to make that decision”, concluded Vettel.
The Silverstone-based team will need to find an adequate replacement for the driver responsible for most of their points this season and who gave Aston Martin’s project a sense of legitimacy at the start of 2021.
With Vettel’s exit imminent, Aston must rediscover the grit and efficiency that made them so consistent in the midfield.
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Schumacher is just one of the many options Aston Martin might consider for 2023, so it remains to be seen how the situation will develop as the potential candidates are evaluated.
Topics: Formula 1, Sebastian Vettel