The German driver
Sebastian Vettel
, who retired last year from
Formula 1
, sounded to return to the highest category of world motorsports to replace the injured Canadian
Lance Stroll , and run for the
Aston Martin
team
on March 5 at the
Grand Prix from Bahrain
.
"There is speculation in Formula 1 circles that Vettel could return to racing for his former Aston Martin team in the 2023 season opener next week, during the Bahrain Grand Prix," the German agency DPA published today.
The information went around the world and aroused the illusion of Vettel's fans, one of the most charismatic drivers in the highest category of motorsport.
However, it was Aston Martin itself who was in charge of demolishing the versions.
"The team will continue to give Lance every opportunity to compete, waiting for him to recover from his injury. In the event that he is not in a condition to race, Felipe (Drugovich) will drive the AMR23 with Fernando," he wrote this Sunday. On twitter.
The Brazilian Drugovich was in charge of testing the AMR23 during the first weekend of training and it was speculated that the brand was somewhat unconvinced with the pilot.
The idea now is to give all the confidence to the 22-year-old born in Maringá.
Vettel, 35 years old and
four times world champion
with the Red Bull team, had announced at the end of last season his official retirement from competitions in order to spend more time with his family.
The head of the Aston Martin team,
Mike Krack
, acknowledged having had informal conversations with the German pilot, which increased rumors of a possible contact.
The Canadian Lance Stroll has not yet fully recovered from a bicycle accident.
Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File.
"I had some phone calls with Sebastian (Vettel), but I also did it last year and I will also do it in the future," said the Luxembourg coach at the Sakhir circuit,
where
the team carried out pre-season tests ahead of the competition for the next sunday.
Felipe Drugovich, from Brazil, a reserve driver who tested Stroll's Aston Martin.
Photo: EFE/EPA/ALI HAIDER.
Stroll suffered a recent accident while training on a bicycle during the pre-season for the world championship and in the tests that ended on Saturday in Bahrain he was replaced by
Felipe Drugovich
, who will then take the track in case Lance does not arrive.
For his part, the Spanish
Fernando Alonso
expected a "quick recovery" from Stroll, his teammate, although there are rumors that the Canadian driver could be "lower for longer".
Source: Telam