Sebastian Vettel says he is “determined” to make Aston Martin more successful in his first comments with the team on Thursday.
After six seasons at Ferrari, the four-time world champion is hoping to refind his mojo at the former Racing Point squad, which has rebranded for 2021.
And though there is some putting pressure on Vettel to validate Lawrence Stroll’s decision of placing him in the seat of new Red Bull driver Sergio Perez, the 33-year-old is keen to optimistic.
“I can’t wait to start working with Aston Martin,” Vettel said as the team announced their new title sponsor Cognizant.
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“There’s so much for me to discover over the next few months and I’m incredibly determined to help make this team even more successful.
“Before we know it, we will be at the first race, seeing this famous name back where it belongs. I’m proud to be part of this journey.”
For Vettel, his move to Aston Martin will also see him using Mercedes engines for the first time after driving with Renault at Red Bull and Ferrari.
“I’m really looking forward to the new challenge. I can’t wait for it to finally start,” he told F1-Insider.com.
“Of course I’m mega excited to see how it [Mercedes power] feels.”
As for the Aston perspective, team boss Otmar Szafnauer continued to downplay the concerns of some, who believe the team has signed a driver now past his prime.
“I don’t think Sebastian has forgotten how to drive a race car fast,” he told GPFans.
“He knows how to win World Championships. I am sure we will learn lots from him, which is why we have hired him. We will give him the support structure he needs in order to feel comfortable in the team and start performing at the levels we know he is capable of.
“So that’s what we have got to do. He has got to teach us and I think together, with that support structure, with showing him the love so to speak and what he can bring to the team can lift us all.
“We have got a great driver with fabulous car control but young in Lance, not as experienced as Seb and then we have got a four-time world champion with that experience of winning that Seb brings and I think that combination will lift the whole team.”