Aston Martin wants to extend its deal with Sebastian Vettel even though sponsor Aramco, Saudi Arabia's state oil company, is not happy about it.
Aston Martin wants to extend its deal with Sebastian Vettel even though sponsor Aramco, Saudi Arabia's state oil company, is not happy about it.
When the four-time world champion attacked Canada's "climate crime" of oil sands mining at the recent Montreal race, it is believed that he suddenly removed his helmet paint after Aramco objected to the publicity.
However, Aston Martin is still very keen to sign the 35-year-old driver to a 2023 contract. "The building contribution he makes far outweighs any negative vibes," team boss Mike Krack told RTL.
"With a driver of Sebastian's caliber, you have to live with strong opinions. First of all, you want a fast race driver. And with Seb, that's out of the question for me. The pace is still there," he continued.
"There aren't many top drivers with that level of experience who still put in that level of work. We are super happy with him and wish he had signed yesterday," the manager commented.
According to Krack, the reason Vettel has not signed yet is that he is waiting to see clear signs of progress from the Silverstone team. "If he sees the light at the end of the tunnel, the decision will be much easier for him. Sebastian Vettel is not racing for 17th place," he concluded.