Sebastian Vettel has recently attracted more attention to himself through social commitment than through sporting success. That won’t be enough in the long run – from Friday (July 22nd, 2022) in Le Castellet, France (live ticker at sportschau.de), sporty signs are expected from him.
Most recently, at the Austrian Grand Prix on the Red Bull Ring, Vettel was lapped again, which is no longer a novelty for the four-time world champion. He finished the race in 17th place and had no points.
Teammate drives even further back
And the trend doesn’t exactly point to an improvement. The fact that the Heppenheimer has landed in the top ten four times this season is almost a success in the hopelessly inferior Aston Martin. For comparison: Vettel’s Canadian teammate Lance Stroll has only scored three points, twelve fewer than the German, and is penultimate in the overall standings.
Vettel is in 14th place – and his statements after the race sometimes seem almost resigned, but they no longer sound like he really enjoys his job.
Contract expires at the end of the season
His last win so far was three years ago, in 2019 in Singapore he was last able to receive a big trophy. But his team is still calm. His contract expires at the end of the season, and the question arises as to what both sides actually want.
Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack recently expressed his praise for Vettel despite the lack of success. “He has a work ethic that I have never experienced so intensely with any other racing driver.”said Krack to “Sport1”: “But he was always like that, from the start he was an extremely hard worker.”
Where exactly does he take the team further?
Vettel bring the whole team “considerably further with his experience, his tips and his commitment”said Krack, but what that means exactly and where this “advancing” is actually reflected, the fans have seen little or nothing of it so far.
After all, Krack then also emphasized his intention to continue working with the Heppenheimer in 2023, after the summer break is the time “where one can and must be more specific”.
Tendency up to the race in Spa
So now France, then a week later Hungary, then there is a break until the last weekend in August in Spa, Belgium. Until then, Vettel will consider whether he would like to use the Formula 1 stage for his criticized statements on environmental protection. Whether it’s enough for him to drive mostly in the back third of the field and sometimes to fight frustratingly with Yuki Tsunoda in the Alpha Tauri or Alex Albon in the Williams.
Vettel himself is still playing for time: “It will depend on how this year goes. Then we’ll see“He said last. Of course he is not satisfied with where he and his racing team are. In view of this, it would not be a big surprise if the father of three Vettel sets other priorities after this season.