Sebastian Vettel, the four-time Formula 1 world champion, made the decision to retire from the sport ahead of last year’s summer break. The driver, who also holds an impressive record of 53 race wins and 57 pole positions, was then replaced at Aston Martin by Fernando Alonso.
In a recent episode of the F1 Nation podcast, it was revealed that following Vettel’s departure, teammate Lance Stroll suffered wrist and feet injuries in a training accident. This left Stroll unable to participate in pre-season testing and caused him to be uncertain for the opening round in Bahrain, which he ultimately competed in.
When asked about the possibility of approaching Vettel to replace Stroll if needed, Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer expressed his temptation to do so but ultimately decided against it. He stated that the team had a high level of respect for Vettel’s decision to retire and did not want to put him in an uncomfortable position.
Krack, the CEO of Aston Martin, also revealed that the team received a special message from Vettel after Alonso scored a podium finish at the Sakhir opener. Krack noted that Vettel had played a significant role in the team’s recent improvements, which have led to their current position as P2 in the constructors’ standings, tied on points with Mercedes. Despite this, Vettel was said to be comfortable with his decision to retire and congratulated the team in a gentleman-like manner.
Krack further stated that the respect between Vettel and the team, as well as between himself and Vettel, was evident in the driver’s congratulations to the team following their successful race in Bahrain. This gesture was greatly appreciated by the team as a whole.
