While Mercedes and Red Bull seem poised to fight for the Formula 1 championship in 2021, Aston Martin’s car just isn’t that good in 2021, says rival AlphaTauri’s team principal Franz Tost after the first F1 season weekend.
Sebastian Vettel, who joined Aston Martin – the former Racing Point team – after being ousted by Ferrari, was billed as a return to a happy environment in which the beleaguered four-pronged world champion could thrive.
However, Vettel fought heavily in Bahrain. He qualified as 18th, only beat the Haas cars of Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin and finished the race under the Backmarkers as 15th. Vettel took 13th place in the F1 drivers’ standings last year.
“I don’t feel at home in the car,” said Vettel. “A lot of things are fighting against me so I can’t concentrate on driving. There are a lot of things we have to take care of.
“Some of the others were two seconds faster.”
Sebastian Vettel (right) struggled to keep up with Segio Perez (left) in Bahrain.
Bryn LennonGetty Images
After the controversy surrounding Racing Point’s “pink Mercedes” last year and Sergio Perez’s win in that car, many predicted that Vettel could even be a dark horse for a fifth title in 2021.
“Theory is one thing, reality is another,” said Alpha Tauri boss Tost to Sport1’s AvD Motor and Sport magazine. “In reality the car isn’t that good. It’s very unstable at the rear end.”
However, Tost believes that Vettel still has time to work back to his previous speed.
“With his experience he can bring a team forward. He knows how to win races and world championships,” said Tost.
Fernando Alonso, who in return had problems over the week after a two-year absence from Formula 1, says he’s still slowly getting used to life at F1 speeds. Alonso’s Alpinauto was suffering from braking problems and the two-time F1 champion was an early exit. He finished 19th. He only completed 32 of 56 laps. The only rider he beat was Haas’ Nikita Mazepin, who didn’t complete a lap after spinning on the first lap.
“I think all the drivers who have changed teams – Carlos (Sainz), (Daniel) Ricciardo, (Sebastian) Vettel – need more time,” Alonso told the Spanish broadcaster DAZN.
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