Sebastian Vettel says he will spare no effort to prepare himself for his maiden season with Aston Martin Racing, the German insisting he will "throw" himself into the team's project come January.
After weighing his options in the early summer after the announcement in May of his ousting from Ferrari at the end of the 2020 season, Vettel opted to sign up with Lawrence Stroll's Racing Point outfit which will race under the Aston martin banner next year.
Many pundits believed the four-time world champion would call it a day on his career in F1 or perhaps enjoy a year on the sidelines. Instead the 33-year-old has committed to a midfield contender for 2021, albeit one that holds great promise in Vettel's view.
And the 53-time Grand Prix wants to be ready at the get-go to do his part with his new team.
"I think obviously ’21 should be similar in terms of the cars to this year but I think it will be a big challenge to get on top of everything," said Vettel.
"So… come January, February, I’m going to throw myself into the project and try to make sure I have understood all of the things that are there to be understood before the driving, the testing and the racing starts."
"I don’t think there’s one particular thing to be honest, or one particular person [to know]. I think it will be getting to know the whole team and rhythm they’re working on – trying to establish the differences – and trying to contribute to make things better."
Before embarking on his future endeavor with Aston, Vettel will undertake his final four races with Ferrari.
The Italian outfit is reaching the end of a dismal season, so it's been anything but a memorable swansong for Vettel. Yet the German will leave Maranello with somewhat of a heavy heart.
"Well I think in the end it’s just like a relationship," he said. "So I think I will miss the people, I think, obviously the spirit, I think the idea, Ferrari, the legend; I’ve obviously been a fan since I was a small child being inspired by Michael [Schumacher].
"But I think when you are part of it then you get to know the people, you get to see behind the scenes, so to say, and I think it’s going to be the people – but the good news is I will still see some of them regularly next year even if it’s in a different way."
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