Aston Martin F1 boss Krack hopes to persuade Vettel to stay

The four-time world champion’s current contract is due to expire at the end of the year and he has admitted he does not know if he will continue to race in F1 beyond 2022, or when he will make a final decision. 

Vettel, who will turn 35 in July, is excited by F1’s new era of regulations and joined Aston Martin with the aim of helping to build the Silverstone-based outfit into a leading player in the sport.

Krack previously worked with Vettel when he was beginning his career at BMW Sauber and acknowledged the task of convincing him to stay will be made easier if Aston Martin can provide the German with a competitive car. 

“Well I hope that myself is already enough for him to stay!” Krack joked during his first briefing with the F1 media on Thursday. 

“It’s clear that a guy like Sebastian, a four-time world champion, he doesn’t want to be 15th, 12th or P8 - that is clear. 

“It is our task to deliver a performing car and have a performing structure. Sebastian is a clever guy, 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. 

“If we manage to offer this, 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. 

“But all in all, it is our task to deliver the right package - then Sebastian Vettel will stay and others drivers would like to join.”

Krack has a reputation for forging strong and successful working relationships with drivers across his career. 

“I think it’s very important for such high-class drivers that they feel the support of the team,” he said. 

“I think what matters here most is being transparent about what we expect, about where we are, and this is something that I handled also with all the drivers that I had in the past. 

“At my former employer we had more drivers, because we had more projects you need more drivers, so it is quite crucial that you have them all embarked with what you want to achieve and there is no-one left over. 

“So you need to spend time on this subject, you need to spend time with both [drivers] and also with reserve drivers and all the drivers you have in the whole system. But it’s a matter of being honest and transparent at the end of the day. 

“So far it has always worked quite easily, if you treat them the way that is necessary. That does not mean you have to call them about everything, but you have to put an ecosystem in place where they can feel trusted and comfortable.”