New Aston Martin Formula 1 team principal Mike Krack says the team must demonstrate its potential in order to keep hold of Sebastian Vettel beyond 2022.
Krack started his new role at Aston Martin last week after leaving his post at BMW as the German manufacturer’s head of motorsport.
His appointment marks the first time in over a decade that Krack has worked in F1, previously operating as chief engineer at BMW Sauber where he first nurtured a young Vettel when he was the team’s test and reserve driver in 2006.
Four-time world champion Vettel’s current contract expires at the end of the season, and Krack is aware of what the Silverstone-based outfit needs to do to persuade him to sign a new deal.
“It’s clear that a guy like Sebastian, a four-time world champion, he does not want to be 15th or 12th or P8,” said Krack, as quoted by Motorsport.com. “That’s clear. It is our task to deliver a performing car, or let’s say performing structure, because I think Sebastian is a clever guy.
“So he will not be focusing just on this year’s car or whatever, but focusing more on what is happening, and if he sees the potential.
“So if we can manage to offer this to him, I think we have a chance to keep him for longer.
“To be honest with you, I have not spoken with him about it. This is something that will have to come, obviously.
“But all in all, it is our task to deliver the right package, then Sebastian will stay and other drivers would like to join.”
Vettel joined Aston Martin last year following his exit from Ferrari after six seasons, securing its only podium finish of 2021 in Baku.
Krack is clear the German is a huge asset to the team due to possessing 16 years of F1 experience.
“Let’s put it like this, Sebastian first of all is a very nice guy,” Krack said. “So he manages to surround the team around him, not by being nice all the time, but being respectful. This is an ethic that I share, largely. So that’s also one of the reasons I think why we get along very well.
“But then, compared to when I knew him last he is now a four-time world champion, he has accrued a huge amount of experience. And he is a clever guy.
“That is also why he manages to combine this experience channelling in the right way, and not saying just in the past I had this or in the past I had this, but he knows exactly what he needs to go faster.
“So from that point of view it’s great to have him, because also he can steer us as a team also in our development.”
Krack admits he and Vettel share a “special link” having worked together together at BMW Sauber, and revealed the two have already spoken since he took his job.
“When Sebastian ran the first time in Turkey in the third car, I was his race engineer,” Krack said. “So this obviously put maybe a bit of a special link between himself and myself. Also, last week, he said do you remember Istanbul? I think we have a very good relationship.
“We have not been in touch so much over the years after I had left F1. But when we met again, it was like we have we have seen ourselves yesterday. So it was very, very good to catch up.
“Now we have a lot of stories to exchange, not only about racing, but also about family, about kids and stuff like that. But the discussions that I’m having with him are always extending on from what we had in the past.
“So we were very, very close in the past, and I have the feeling we have been very close now again.”
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