Vettel 'refreshed and reborn again' at Aston Martin - Brawn

©AstonMartin

Ross Brawn picked Sebastian Vettel as his 'Driver of the Day' in Baku, insisting the four-time world champion is a "refreshed and reborn" man at Aston Martin.

Vettel finished second behind Red Bull's Sergio Perez in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, scoring his first podium finish of the season with his new Aston Martin team.

The result went a long way towards putting a joyful smile on Vettel's face and boosting his confidence after two years' of struggles with Ferrari.

Brawn admitted that his personal choice as 'Driver of the Day' in Baku was a close call in light of the outstanding performances of Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Vettel

But in the end, F1's managing director of motorsport agreed with the fans' vote.

©AstonMartin

"It’s a close call, but for me, my driver of the day was Seb," said Brawn in his post-race debrief for Formula1.com.

"It is a real pleasure to see him get going again. Seb’s had a tough last couple of seasons.

"I was one of the people who was uncertain about the decision Aston made in signing him up, but it’s looking to be a great call because of the way he’s driving and the results he’s getting.

"He’s reborn again. He’s refreshed," added Brawn. "There’s a different vibe about him. And it just shows how the whole psychological aspect can impact performance.

"Seb has found himself in a much more comfortable place, with the right sort of pressure and with engineers who he is learning to work with. He’s getting results and he deserves it. Bravo."

Read also: 'Over the moon' Vettel didn't expect podium in Baku

Brawn's plaudits were echoed by Vettel's former team, with Scuderia boss Mattia Binotto also commending his former driver for his good result.

"We’re also happy for Seb, a second place for him and it was a deserved second place", said the Swiss. "I think as Ferrari fans we’re happy for his result."

And Vettel's former teammate Charles Leclerc followed suit.

"I think the biggest two surprises of today are the two Aston Martins that were flying and this we honestly did not expect," commented the Monegasque.

"But I’m very happy for Seb, very happy for his first podium with Aston Martin, he deserves it."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.