Ecclestone helped Vettel seal Aston Martin move
Sebastian Vettel confirms Bernie Ecclestone was part of his Aston Martin talks.
Sebastian Vettel says former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone did play a role in the negotiations over his move to Aston Martin.
Despite a podium finish at the Turkish Grand Prix, 2020 has been a dismal final year for Vettel at Ferrari with the four-time World Champion finding himself all the way down in P13 in the Drivers’ Championship.
But he will get a chance at a fresh start once he moves to Aston Martin for 2021 as the brand prepare to take over from the Racing Point entry.
Recently, Ecclestone, former boss of Formula 1, told Sport 1 he had helped his friend Vettel negotiate the move to Aston Martin.
“I really put pressure on team owner Lawrence Stroll to take Sebastian,” he said.
And on top of that, former Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger had apparently been in talks with Vettel, saying the German was interested in DTM alongside Formula 1.
Vettel has now confirmed he spoke with Ecclestone and Berger.
“It’s true that I spoke with both of them, as well as some other people,” he said at the Turkish Grand Prix.
“Some I consider my friends, some I just asked for advice. As for the commission, Bernie didn’t ask me for it! I suppose he wouldn’t like to take money from me.”
As for a possible drive in DTM, Vettel said that “in the past it was possible, but not today”.
“I would be interested but when the calendar is going to 23 races, it’s not so easy to find time. It’s not really realistic,” he added.
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With only three races of his Ferrari career remaining, Vettel admitted his relations with the team had certainly been better.
“This year’s season was very difficult and I admit that I even had doubts about my own abilities,” Grandpx.news quotes him as having told Die Zeit.
“I haven’t gotten anywhere this season and relations with the team are not the easiest either.
“The love affair is over, but I am still motivated.”
For 2021, Vettel will be replaced at Ferrari by Carlos Sainz who is set to leave McLaren after two productive years with the Woking outfit.
Sainz has scored two podiums in Formula 1 with McLaren, finishing P2 at this year’s Italian Grand Prix behind AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly.
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