The steering is difficult to adapt to the Aston Martin F1 switch

The four-time champion changed the Formula 1 squad this year and moved from Ferrari to the renamed Aston Martin team that replaced Racing Point.

After his first official public outing with the team during pre-season testing in Bahrain last weekend, Vettel has highlighted the key areas where he believes there are still profits to be made.

“It’s just about getting to know people because it’s one thing to understand what they mean and of course a lot of different things to talk about the car,” he said.

“The steering feels different on a car because it’s a different unit. Of course, every F1 car has power steering, but each power steering is set up a little differently and gives a different impression because, ultimately, when you drive, you have the wheel in your hand and that is the feedback you get. “

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR21

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Another challenge for Vettel is the adaptation to a completely different vehicle concept. The Aston Martin is a low-rake car compared to the high-rake concepts it previously used at Red Bull and Ferrari.

This means that he has to go through a much larger learning curve and adapt to the Mercedes engine for the first time.

“The car has a different philosophy,” he said. “It’s a different team, it’s a different car, so it drives a little differently. It would like to be driven differently and with a different unit.

“Without going into details, because I don’t think it’s fair to compare in public, but of course these things are different and take getting used to.

“It’s also a different environment in the car, just in terms of comfort. The pedals feel a little different and the seat is a little different. So it’s little things, but it’s the cumulative effect of all of these things together. “

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While Vettel does not want to get involved in comparing the various Aston Martin vehicle concepts, it was a fascinating experience for him to try something new.

“It was very interesting to me, let’s put it that way,” he said. “It’s not that there is only one thing. It’s not that you have a high-rake car and just drop the rake and sit in a Mercedes. You’re in a Mercedes raising the rake and driving a Red Bull. It’s not like that. It’s much, much more complex. There are many more elements that need to come together. “