Sebastian Vettel wants to 'accelerate' Lawrence Stroll plan after F1 2022 car launch
SEBASTIAN VETTEL watched Aston Martin unveil their new car ahead of the 2022 season on Thursday.
F1: Vettel insists he can win races at Aston Martin
Sebastian Vettel was on good form when discussing Lawrence Stroll's five-year plan for Aston Martin to reach the summit of F1. The part-owner of the F1 team has lofty ambitions for the new season and is desperate for Aston Martin to improve on their seventh-place finish in the constructors' championship last year.
They became the third F1 team to unveil their car for the 2022 season on Thursday, after Red Bull and Haas.
The AMR22 was revealed at the team's UK headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, where Sebastain Vettel commented on using his vast experience to carry out his boss’ plan at a quicker rate.
Stroll revealed at the car launch that Aston Martin have an ambition five-year plan to reach the top of F1, usurping the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull.
"I hope to accelerate it a little bit, the four-time F1 world champion said.
"It's always a big effort and since there's so many novelties this year, it's very difficult to know what to expect.
JUST IN: Aston Martin launch F1 2022 car as Sebastian Vettel bids for significant improvements
"To point out where we'll be is impossible at this stage but surely if we're on the climb, we want to be better than last year.”
He then commented on the struggles the team had last season, who were always playing catch up from the start of the season.
They struggled with engine problems during pre-season testing and struggled to field a car capable of competing with the likes Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari.
"Last year we had our difficulties and I think for many reasons we should be better off this year but there's so many new things with new tyres, new cars, lots of new challenges,” Vettel added.
"I hope the field will be closer together and that will give us more chance to race more at the front than we did last year.
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"Realistically, the answer is that we don't know and we have to be a little more patient."
Aston Martin's Test and Development driver, Nick Yelloly, indicated last December that the team were on track for significant improvements this time around.
He said: “Obviously when we get the new car on the track, that will be the main point.
“But in general, the car feels very, very good and we test each new idea out on the simulator before even thinking about any build process.
“We have made big gains since March and now we look forward to the February running in Barcelona.”
The model, called the AMR22, has been in the works since last March and Vettel and Co will be desperate to send out a statement of intent next season.
The new campaign will begin in Bahrain on March 20.