Aston Martin took to the track in an F1 car in 2021 when Sebastian Vettel debuted his new team

The British brand is starting as an F1 constructor for the first time in six decades after newcomer Sebastian Vettel and team-mate Lance Stroll drive the Aston Martin AMR21 for the first time

Last updated: 3/5/21 6:38 PM

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See the first Aston Martin F1 car to hit the track in 61 years. Vettel made his debut for the team at Silverstone.

See the first Aston Martin F1 car to hit the track in 61 years. Vettel made his debut for the team at Silverstone.

Sebastian Vettel’s career at Aston Martin officially began on the track after the four-time World Champion completed his first laps for the team at Silverstone.

On a day of shooting with her AMR21 car after the glamorous kick-off event on Wednesday, Vettel shared the driving duties with Lance Stroll when the newly renamed team completed the test, limited to 100 km, under mixed track conditions.

In addition to his first outing for his first new team in six years, it was also a debut for the German with a Mercedes F1 engine.

Lance Stroll gets used to the AMR21 on Thursday when it is wet

Most of Vettel’s 14-year career, which included four world championships and 53 race victories, he has spent in cars powered by Ferrari or Renault.

Mercedes has been the benchmark engine in sport since the beginning of the hybrid turbo engine era in 2014.

2:39 Aston Martin has launched its first Formula 1 car in 60 years, with an eye-catching new green AMR21, unveiled by newcomer Sebastian Vettel and teammate Lance Stroll

Aston Martin has launched its first Formula 1 car in 60 years, with an eye-catching new green AMR21, unveiled by newcomer Sebastian Vettel and teammate Lance Stroll

Vettel joins the former Racing Point team after a disappointing end to his six-year Ferrari career when he had the worst overall season of his career in 2020 and finished 13th in the drivers’ standings.

But his new team boss is confident that the 33-year-old will prove to be a huge win for the team when it comes to challenging for F1’s top honors in future seasons.

“When he brings in someone like Seb with his experience, he knows how to win races, he knows how to win world championships,” said Otmar Szafnauer to Sky Sports.

“He is still a young man and has not forgotten how to drive a Formula 1 car fast.

“He has a great work ethic. He and we leave no stone unturned in our quest for performance, so I think with all of these qualities this is exactly what this team needs.”