The four-time World Champion will move to the rebranded Racing Point team which will become Aston Martin Racing next year, after he was dumped by Ferrari following a dip in results, but remains confident of bouncing back with a fresh start at a new team.
In a sign of confidence, Vettel has acquired shares in the British manufacturer, though it’s not known whether they were included as part of his deal to join the team, which was brokered by Aston Martin executive chairman Lawrence Stroll, or whether he purchased them himself.
“I think everybody’s free to do what they want with their money,” Vettel replied when asked if he owned a stake in the company. “And as I know, Aston Martin is a public company, and everyone is free to invest in the company.
“So if you’re asking whether I have shares in the company, I have, but how much I think it’s a secondary thing, and I won’t talk about it.
“But I think I believe in the project, I’ve decided obviously to go with the project and I’m excited to see what happens when we kick off next year. I’m starting for a new team.”
Vettel was persuaded to join the team by Stroll, who considers the German an important marketing tool to boost Aston Martin, which has struggled during the pandemic, but his arrival comes at the cost of the hugely popular Sergio Perez.
Asked if he had any regrets about that, he added: “Obviously there are not that many seats open still and I don’t know if Checo is talking to anyone. So, I don’t know if he’s definitely out.
“You guys are making the news, so I think you know a bit more than me, or at least sooner than me. But I think it would be a shame. He is the driver that deserves to be in Formula 1. Now I don’t know which options he has, and what he wants to do.”
Source: motorsportweek.com