Vettel can help get the most out of Stroll

Vettel joins the former Racing Point team this year after his Ferrari contract was not extended beyond 2020.

The German has had a tough time with Charles Leclerc, his partner at Maranello, in the last two seasons.

However, Aston Martin management believes Vettel will thrive in his new environment. Technical Director Andrew Green suggests in October that the team can help him “rediscover his mojo”.

Szafnauer assumes that Vettel and Stroll will motivate each other.

“It’s very exciting for everyone in the team,” said Szafnauer of the line-up.

“In Sebastian we have a proven four-time world champion who has experience helping teams become race-winning and championship-fighting outfits.

“That’s why it’s such an important signature for us. He brings with him a winning mentality and we will undoubtedly all learn a lot from him on this journey.

“In Lance we have a young, talented, hardworking driver who has enjoyed his best campaign so far last year and has really made progress in all areas of his race.

“We know if we give him the tools he will be more than able to help the team achieve their goals.

“We also believe Sebastian will get the best out of Lance, with Lance pushing Sebastian hard in return. That’s why we’re excited about our line-up for 2021. It’s the ideal mix of experience, race-winning know-how and raw talent. “

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Szafnauer acknowledged that it wasn’t an easy process for the team to make the transition from Racing Point to Aston Martin without compromising the outfit’s proven ability to do a lot with limited resources.

“It was a mammoth task,” he said. “It’s easy to forget that we laid the foundations for a brand new era in a very challenging global environment while balancing those tasks with our most successful F1 season to date – including a race win and multiple podiums ending on the way to fourth place in the constructors’ championship.

“Everyone involved should be very proud of this achievement and I think this shows that while this is a new team name and identity, we have retained the strong backbone that has led us through difficult times to this day.

“While the challenge was once how to establish ourselves as the most efficient team on the grid, there is now an exciting opportunity to establish ourselves as the top team while maintaining that efficiency to add an exciting chapter to Aston Martin’s legacy. “

Szafnauer also suggested that Aston could aim for race wins in 2021: “With a new name, committed shareholders, new investments and an experienced team, we believe we have everything we need to fight for even more podiums and hopefully for victories.

“It is the beginning of a new journey and I can feel an additional energy in the team with the determination to improve the performance further than ever before.

“Combined with some of the most creative minds in the business, a true racing mindset and the skill that has served us so well over the years, we have every reason to look forward to the future.”

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