Vettel Leaves, Who Can Aston Martin Sign Next?

The announcement of Vettel’s retirement has altered the driver’s silly season and created several possibilities that could affect various organisations. The truth is that Aston Martin doesn’t have a strategy in place. While retirement was always an option for Sebastian Vettel and was undoubtedly a topic of conversation between him and team owner Lawrence Stroll in recent weeks, the two were also talking about the parameters of a contract extension.

The search for a replacement formally began this week when Vettel made his intentions apparent, as the team could not continue to wait for a decision indefinitely.

Stroll will ultimately make the choice, but the senior management, including team principal Mike Krack, chief technology officer Andy Green, sporting director Andy Stevenson, and performance director Tom McCullough, will provide input.

Because Lance Stroll is in the other vehicle, Aston Martin is obviously in a unique circumstance, and any choice must inevitably take that complex dynamic into account.

Vettel was a world champion who was also a team member, and Stroll Sr. felt that by choosing him, he might potentially have a beneficial influence on his son.

Aston also produces automobiles, so there are marketing considerations. Vettel’s selection was affected by the favourable PR he would bring, and Stroll will want to sign someone with a high profile, like a seasoned race winner, if at all possible.

Regardless of other factors, reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg, who raced for the team during its Force India days in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2016, should be the likely first choice on the list.

In 2020, he made three substitute appearances for Racing Point and filled in for Sebastian Vettel at Aston in the first two races of this season.

Hulkenberg is available, a one-year contract with him for 2023 will be simple to arrange while keeping all other options open for 2024, and he is of course well-known to the club.

He is less than two months younger than Vettel because he turns 35 in three weeks, but as we’ve seen in recent years, drivers can now compete far into their forties.

In the following weeks, he can also continue to be the backup option for as long as it takes the team to consider all of their alternatives and possibly determine that he is the best option, at least for ’23. However, does the team want him?

Fernando Alonso is an obvious choice. Before hiring Vettel, Stroll expressed interest in the Spaniard, who is a world champion and a victor who can contribute substantial technical knowledge and the commercial profile that Stroll needs at Aston.

Oscar Piastri’s seat would become available if Alpine were to depart, and the Enstone camp would remain content.

The baggage that some in the Aston camp may be concerned Alonso will bring is the drawback. He is not a good fit to be Lance Stroll’s teammate because of his reputation for being disruptive and looking out for himself.