P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Aston Martin have given Sebastian Vettel a lot of praise for the impact he had on the team in turning them into a podium-contending outfit in F1 2023.
Vettel had a two-year stint at Aston Martin, but decided to retire from Formula 1 at the end of 2022. Unfortunately, Aston Martin had a strong car at the start of that year. In 2023, his replacement, Fernando Alonso, achieved eight podium finishes. Aston Martin’s performance director, McCullough, highlighted the impact Vettel had on the team, bringing valuable insights and working tirelessly. However, Aston Martin didn’t provide Vettel with a competitive car during his time there, and by the end of his second year, progress was being made. McCullough compared this situation to Rubens Barrichello’s involvement at Williams, where his input in the 2010 and 2011 seasons led to a race-winning car in 2012, although Barrichello didn’t end up driving it.
