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F1 redemption beckons for Vettel after miserable end at Ferrari

PARIS — Sebastian Vettel is feeling optimistic about his new Formula One career with Aston Martin after turning the page on a miserable last season with Ferrari. Things went from bad to awful for the four-time F1 champion in 2020. He had just one podium finish and ended 10 of 17 races outside the top 10 last season amid a tense atmosphere worsened by the fact Ferrari did not offer him a new contract. “The whole year was a challenge. IÂ’m obviously not happy with how last year went in terms of performance, in terms of my performance," he said. “There are things that didnÂ’t go well and things I would have liked to go differently. ItÂ’s not a secret that at stages I wasnÂ’t at my happiest." Last year was a huge fall from grace for Vettel, whose confidence was already shaken after he lost the 2017 and 2018 titles to Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, despite leading both championships at the halfway stage. A driver who still shares the F1 record with Michael Schumacher for most wins in a season — 13 with Red Bull in 2013 — and has 53 wins among his 121 podiums found himself outclassed by his junior teammate Charles Leclerc in 2019 and 2020. When Leclerc was given a lucrative new contract through 2024 — and Vettel wasn't even offered one —it became clear who was considered number one in the team. The frown lines grew deeper on Vettel's face as he finished the last three races of 2020 in 13th, 12th and 14th. “It hadnÂ’t been to my standards. IÂ’ve never really cared what people think or say, or write," Vettel said. “ThatÂ’s why itÂ’s important IÂ’m at peace with myself. (I have) very, very high expectations of myself.” He even considered retiring but a move to Aston Martin has rekindled the 33-year-old German driver's enthusiasm. “IÂ’m not too old, there are older drivers returning to the grid," he said, referring to 39-year-old Fernando Alonso. “I donÂ’t think itÂ’s an age thing, I think itÂ’s more a question of (whether) you have the team and the car around you.” The Aston Martin team runs on Mercedes engines and is owned by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, whose son Lance Stroll is the team's other driver. The plan is to make Aston Martin a title contender within three to five years. Vettel suggested the atmosphere at Aston Martin is less stuffy than it was at powerhouse Ferrari. The Italian manufacturer with its bright red car remains the most iconic name in F1 history.

Andy Palmer leaves Renault-Nissan to serve as CEO of Aston Martin

Aston Martin has been without a helmsman since Ulrich Bez stepped down from the chief executive office at the end of last year, stepping back to serve as non-executive chairman in a semi-retired ambassadorial capacity. The British automaker, now on the cusp of a new era, has been running without a CEO since, but has now named Bez's replacement in Andy Palmer.
If you don't recognize the name, you should: Palmer has worked under the Renault-Nissan Alliance for decades now, rising through the ranks to become one of the top executives under Carlos Ghosn. Most recently he was serving as executive vice president of the entire group and chairman of the Infiniti brand, but like Carlos Tavares, who recently left Renault to run Peugeot, Palmer is now embarking on a new mission as CEO of Aston Martin.
Once the transition period is complete at the start of October, Palmer's role as Chief Planning Officer at Renault-Nissan will be assumed by Philippe Klein, who steps up from his current role as executive vice president of product planning for Renault. Read the statements from both companies below.

Aston Martin Victor is a one-off Q build inspired by the original V8 Vantage

Aston Martin’s Q division should be taken very seriously. It just turned out this stunning one-off custom model named the Aston Martin Victor. The Victor is based on a One-77, and itÂ’s the biggest project Q has ever taken on. Aston used the V8 Vantage of the 1970s and 1980s as the design inspiration for the Victor, making it look like a resto-mod Aston Martin. We dig it, a lot. The styling is massively different than a One-77 from front to back, as Aston has gone over every surface of this car. Our favorite highlights include the round headlights, Vulcan-inspired taillights, and boattail rear with its massive, upturned spoiler. It walks the Aston line of being beautiful and aggressive at the same time, with the emphasis on aggression in this build. The paint is called Pentland Green, and itÂ’s complemented by a whole lot of satin carbon fiber. The carbon-fiber monocoque chassis is adapted from the One-77. However, the new carbon-fiber body weighs less than that of the original One-77. Under the sculpted hood sits a 7.3-liter V12. ItÂ’s also from a One-77, but itÂ’s been heavily breathed upon by Cosworth. Output is bumped up to 836 horsepower and 606 pound-feet of torque, increases of 86 and 53 respectively. And then thereÂ’s the transmission. Aston converted it to a genuine three-pedal six-speed manual. The gearbox comes courtesy of Graziano. It requires new twin coolers to handle the heat and a motorsport clutch to handle the torque.  Shifting is done with a solid walnut knob, and itÂ’s simply beautiful. Forest Green “Conker Bridge of Weir” leather covers the cabin where you donÂ’t see exposed carbon fiber. Cashmere is used for the headliner, while anodized aluminum and polished titanium serve in concert with walnut wood for the interior trim. Yeah, it was probably extremely expensive. This car should handle spectacularly well, too. It uses the same inboard dampers and springs as the Vulcan, allowing for six settings of aggression. Aston says it was tuned to ride well on the street in addition to a racetrack — after all, it is road legal. Center-lock wheels are fitted, and six-piston Brembo brakes with carbon-ceramic rotors sit within them. Aston says it produces even more downforce than a Vantage GT4 racecar, so itÂ’s a serious track monster. We donÂ’t know how much it costs, but whoever commissioned the build is certainly extravagantly rich. Related video: