Aston Martin keen on extending Sebastian Vettel’s contract for the long-term

Aston Martin boss Mike Krack has said that he wants Sebastian Vettel to stay at the team for the long-term.

Vettel joined Aston Martin from Ferrari in 2021, with the four-time world champion hoping to lead the mid-table outfit to greater things.

But following on from a somewhat underwhelming 12thplace in last year’s standings, although he did manage an impressive podium at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, things have not picked up in the way anyone would have hoped, with the Aston Martin AMR22 struggling for pace.

There has been a little improvement in recent races, with points finishes in Monaco and Azerbaijan, but with Vettel out of contract at the end of this season there has been speculation that the 34-year-old could walk away from the sport.

‘The future depends on this year and the races that I have coming up,’ Vettel told Press Association earlier this year.

‘I have not decided yet. The summer is the usual time when you start to talk so we will see.

‘It [the Formula 1 season] is very time-consuming and I have kids at home and a family, so it equals time away from them.’

Vettel has also recently revealed that he considers quitting F1 regularly because of the impact of climate change.

As one of the most popular drivers on the grid, many would be saddened to see Vettel leave F1, but Krack is hopeful that they can convince the German to sign on for 2023 and beyond.

‘We were always clear that if he wants to continue, we would like him to stay for long, yes,’ Krack, who was part of the BMW Sauber team who gave Vettel his debut in 2007, said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.

‘We are talking. We have a very, very good relationship, and it is not that we have to set each other deadlines.

‘Obviously at one point, if we drag that too long, we will also be running into trouble, and he’s aware of that. But they are very trustworthy discussions that we are having. From that point of view, it’s all good.’

One of the most successful drivers in the history of F1, Vettel won four straight titles with Red Bull from 2010 to 2013, and to date has won 53 races and claimed 57 pole positions.

After nine races this year, he is 14th in the standings with 13 points, 10 ahead of teammate Lance Stroll, while Aston Martin are eighth in the constructors’ table.

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