Aston Martin chiefs have paid tribute to Sebastian Vettel following his decision to retire at the end of the season, making clear they wanted him to continue into 2023. Vettel's future has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks, as the German pondered whether to stick with Aston Martin for a third season or call time on his career. Eventually, the 35-year-old settled on retirement, explaining in an emotional video on social media that "there's so much to explore and learn about life and about myself". Following the announcement, Aston Martin Chairman Lawrence Stroll said it was "made clear" to Vettel that the team wanted him to stay, but his final decision is fully respected.
Stroll hails Vettel as an "all-time great"
"I want to thank Sebastian from the bottom of my heart for the great work that he has done for Aston over the past year and a half," said Stroll. "We made it clear to him that we wanted him to continue with us next year, but in the end he has done what he feels is right for himself and his family, and of course we respect that. "He has driven some fantastic races for us, and, behind the scenes, his experience and expertise with our engineers have been extremely valuable. "He is one of the all-time greats of Formula 1, and it has been a privilege to have been able to work with him. "He will continue to race for us up to and including the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will be his 300th Grand Prix entry. We will give him a fabulous send-off."
Aston Martin will "miss" Vettel's qualities
Mike Krack, who previously worked with Vettel at BMW Sauber before the pair linked up again at Aston Martin earlier this season, added to Stroll's positive appraisal. Aston Martin's new team boss also noted how much the four-time World Champion's expertise and experience will be missed when he leaves. "Sebastian is a superb driver – fast, intelligent and strategic – and of course we are going to miss those qualities," Krack commented. "However, we have all learned from him, and the knowledge that we have gained from working with him will continue to benefit our team long after his departure. "Aston Martin is a great project, with unlimited potential, and the groundwork that Sebastian has done last year, and is still doing this year, is crucial. "When we become fully competitive – and we will – one of the architects of that future success will be Sebastian, and we will always be grateful to him for that."
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