Aston Martin wants Sebastian Vettel to consult with the team before launching surprising environmental campaigns in Formula One racing.
Aston Martin wants Sebastian Vettel to consult with the team before launching surprise environmental campaigns in Formula One racing.
The four-time world champion has been widely criticized and praised for his cultural, social and environmental activism.
"Everyone has their opinion on this," Mike Krack, head of Aston Martin, told . "I don't think you can silence intelligent top athletes and I don't think it's fair to criticize him for his commitment. What occurred in Canada was the best example of that."
"However, as a team representative, I would like Sebastian to work even closer with us on his actions and talk to us about them in advance. We can achieve more together."
Some believe that the conflict between Vettel's environmentalism and his role as Aramco's ambassador to Aston Martin explains the delay in contract negotiations for 2023. Krack insists that the team is not pressuring the German.
"We have a very good relationship with Sebastian, so we don't want to set a deadline. He knows what our opinion is, he knows that we really want to continue with him."
"There are conversations in which we fundamentally exchange ideas regarding how we can imagine a future together, and we are being patient in that."
"Of course, there comes a point where you need to make a decision, but I don't get the feeling that he is putting things off. I think we can and should be more specific after the summer recess. Until then, we don't have a plan B."
Mick Schumacher, Vettel's protégé friend, has been mentioned as a possible "plan B," but Krack said he is not ready to consider it.
"We are not talking about potential successors," he insisted. "Neither with him nor with others. We want Sebastian to continue with us."