Aston Martin Formula 1 boss Mike Krack has rubbished suggestions Sebastian Vettel is on a "farewell tour" as he prepares to retire.
Four-time World Champion Vettel announced his retirement from F1 at the end of the season just before the Hungarian Grand Prix - in turn triggering a free-for-all in the driver market as old rival Fernando Alonso was signed to replace him.
Vettel is enduring a difficult season in the relatively uncompetitive AMR22 - scoring points in six races and is 13th in the standings after a DNF at the Italian Grand Prix - the scene of his first win back in 2008.
The German is also in danger of not scoring a podium in a full-time season for the first time - with just six opportunities left for him to make another visit to the rostrum.
Despite nearing the end of his career, Vettel is as still as committed as ever, and is not on a "farewell tour" according to Krack.
Viewed by others:
Better tracks coming for Aston Martin
"We are not really on a farewell tour," Krack told media including RacingNews365.com.
"We are not thinking this is the last month, that is the last year, or this is the last time I do this or [that].
"We will for sure have a farewell in Abu Dhabi, but until then, it's not really on our mind that we go now around the world and it is always the last - not at all."
Krack pointed out that some tracks coming up on the calendar - such as Singapore should suit the Aston more than lower downforce ones like Monza - with Vettel a five-time winner on the streets of Marina Bay.
"I think we have a couple of races to come where the car will be more competitive, and you have seen in some forms, the potential to go into Q3 was there.
"So we have the potential and I think this is also encouraging for the races to come.
"Singapore was always a track where he performed very, very well, so we have high hopes that we achieve something something good with him from now to the end."
Also interesting:
F1 Podcast: Does F1's grid penalty system need revising?
With confusion reigning for several hours over Max Verstappen's starting position for the Italian Grand Prix, does F1's grid penalty system need revising, and should there be a rule preventing races from ending under the Safety Car?
RacingNews365.com F1 journalists Dieter Rencken and Michael Butterworth discuss the key issues from the Italian Grand Prix.