Mike Krack revealed about holding talks with Sebastian Vettel, but it is nothing to do with a F1 return as yet.
Following the end of the three-day F1 2023 Bahrain pre-season test, Aston Martin team principal Krack send some ‘shock waves’ in the paddock and in general while discussing about Vettel as a potential candidate to replace Lance Stroll next week.
Speaking to media – including Sky Sports F1 – Krack admitted to speaking with Vettel but the German clarified that he does it often with him and he will continue to do so in future. But he insisted the discussions was nothing about a potential return.
Not just Bahrain, the media also inquired about a long-term situation if Stroll’s injury forces him to miss races beyond the first round, i.e Saudi Arabia or even Australia, Krack was adamant on Vettel having a post-retirement plan which makes it difficult for a return.
“I have had a couple of phone calls with Sebastian,” said Krack. “But this has been also last year, and this will continue in the future. I will not tell you [if he is interested in driving]. I mean, this is very, very hypothetical [about Saudi Arabia or so]. First of all, our plan is to have Lance in the car.
“And then we continue to see because we have Bahrain first before we speak about Jeddah. We have not made the final decision. That’s the point. Don’t forget one thing. He had a very, very thorough plan in mind for his retirement. And, you know, I think this is also something that you have to respect. So let’s see what’s happening,” summed up Krack.
The only reason why the talk of Vettel or Felipe Drugovich or Stoffel Vandoorne has arose is because of the lack of information on the severity of Stroll’s injury. Over the pre-season test, Krack stated that Stroll injured his hand and wrist, but gave nothing more than that.
The Plan A for Aston Martin remains for Stroll to drive, but Plan B so far consists or Drugovich and Vandoorne, where the former had two half days in the AMR23 while the latter couldn’t make it to Bahrain due to his Formula E commitments.
It is not clear if Vettel is in that Plan B, but it is unlikely since the German is busy camping with his family as per his brother Fabian. “I honestly don’t know at this point,” said Krack. “He’s our Plan A obviously, we want to have Lance back in the car, but we have to wait, what he says and what the doctors are saying in the right moment.
“There are certain delays or certain limits that you have to give to the FIA, and then we will respect this. We’ll have to see how the situation is developing over the next day. It’s like in football, you have players that are a little bit injured, and you wait for the last moment, and then you decide if they can play or not.
“The Plan B we have to decide. We have some Plan Bs, but we have to decide the Plan B when the Plan A not possible. It’s very simple. Can he drive or can he not drive?,” summed up Krack, as Aston Martin is leaving until Tuesday/Wednesday to make a final call. Ironically, the team is again in need of finding a driver after COVID-19 forced Vettel out of driving in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in 2022 when Nico Hulkenberg stepped in.
The German has since moved on to Haas for 2023 leaving Aston Martin to decide between Drugovich and Vandoorne for now. Among others, the team’s ties with Mercedes could lead them to take in Mick Schumacher, who has the experience of driving the 2022 car in race conditions which is more than what their current reserve drivers have.
Here’s what drivers said after Day 1
Here’s what drivers said after Day 2
Here’s what drivers said after Day 3
Here’s Mike Krack, Felipe Drugovich on the situation
Here’s news on Lance Stroll
Here’s news on Aston Martin reserve on loan to McLaren
Here’s Fernando Alonso on hunger within Aston Martin