Lawrence Stroll believes Sebastian Vettel is “doing a great job” with Aston Martin after attributing his slow start with the Formula 1 team to a difficult pre-season test.
After leaving Ferrari, the four-time F1 world champion Vettel signed with Aston Martin as a partner of Lance Stroll for the 2021 season.
Vettel had a difficult start to the year with Aston Martin. He completed the fewest test kilometers of all full-time drivers and was then unable to collect any points in the first four races.
But Vettel recovered by an impressive margin of fifth place in Monaco before taking Aston Martin’s first podium with second place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Vettel joined Aston Martin after a difficult past year at Ferrari, which initially raised questions about his suitability for the team, particularly after the decision to part ways with Sergio Perez to make room for the German driver.
In a call to selected media, including Motorsport.com, Aston Martin team owner Stroll confirmed that Vettel was “our most expensive employee” but was satisfied with his performance so far this season.
“It started slowly and is up to date right now,” said Stroll.
“I think the slow start also has to do with the difficulties we had testing where we have very, very little [running], I think we only had three days.
“I think we had all kinds of breakdowns with the car on one and a half days of the three days. So there is a lack of runtime.
“Yes, it’s the most expensive, but I think it does a great job.”
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Stroll said the team had a “perfect driver line-up” with the “mixture of masterful experience and know-how” of Vettel and the “raw young talent” of his son Lance.
Stroll Jr. took his first pole position in Turkey and two other podiums last year, but has not finished eighth place this year.
When asked if Lance could be a weak link in Aston Martin’s ambitions to win a World Championship in the next five years, Stroll Sr. said his son was doing “an exceptional job.”
“He’s all 22 years old,” said Stroll.
“Whether it’s his performances on pole or the multiple podiums, you know, he’s competing with Sebastian this year, I think they’re probably about equal.
“So I have no concerns or feelings that Lance is underperforming. As he grows he will gain more experience. Like everyone else his age, he gets stronger. So I have absolutely no concerns. “
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