The four-time world champion is in talks with Aston Martin to extend the long-term contract originally signed earlier this season.
Since the terms of the contract state that options must be drawn on by both sides for the second year, the two parties must finalize certain aspects before the deal is set in stone.
But the delays in resolving matters with Vettel have sparked talks that there may be sticking points in the discussions, and that could mean they fail to bring the contract over the line.
At the Italian Grand Prix about these suggestions, Aston Martin team boss Otmar Szafnauer adamantly said that there was nothing to worry about – and said his outfit was so relaxed that it was not considering alternative scenarios.
“Absolutely 100 percent nonsense,” said Szafnauer about hints of tension in the talks with Vettel.
“We don’t have a plan B. He doesn’t have a plan B. There is absolutely no frictional loss. You can ask him and I’m confident he will say he absolutely loves it here. It’s just a matter of training some details. “
Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR21
Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
Szafnauer explained that the delay in closing the deal was simply due to the nature of complicated Formula 1 contracts and the need to agree on the smallest of clauses.
“It was a multi-year contract but there are options on both sides,” he said. “So if you have options on both sides then there are some details that you will negotiate before your time window expires. This is exactly what is happening now.
“We’re just having detailed discussions to the point where the option expires. I think before that happens we’ll make an announcement.”
Szafnauer expects the new Vettel contract to be announced before the Russian Grand Prix and knew that if Aston Martin were considering a driver change, they would have started talks with other candidates.
“If there was any doubt on our minds, it would be in July when all these other people were thinking, ‘Oh, should I go to Williams or should I go to Alfa Romeo’ or all that stuff, it would have been us talking too to lead. But we didn’t. “
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