Paris (AFP)

Aston Martin presented its single-seater on Wednesday for an ambitious return to Formula 1 after 61 years of absence, with the desire to "get the most out" of its new driver Sebastian Vettel, quadruple world champion in decline.

If Aston Martin returns after two participations in 1959 and 1960, the team is not starting from scratch.

It replaces Racing Point, the name used for the last two years after the takeover of Force India, and hopes to enter another dimension, in particular thanks to its German driver.

Four times world champion with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013, Vettel did not have the same success with Ferrari and comes out of a catastrophic year ended in 13th place in the drivers' championship.

"I am convinced that we can put + Seb + back in the right place," explained Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer during a press point organized on the sidelines of the presentation of the new single-seater, called AMR21.

It will ride in pre-season testing, March 12-14 in Bahrain, before the first Grand Prix in Bahrain on March 28.

"He's incredibly relaxed and fits into the team very quickly. His contributions started immediately so I think we're going to get the most out of + Seb +. I think he's at the peak of his career."

Vettel, "obviously not satisfied with the way last year went in terms of performance", assures to have "no regrets": "I am really at peace with last year".

"I am especially looking towards this year, I look forward to it and of course I have very, very high expectations", indicated, also in virtual press conference, the new teammate of the Canadian Lance Stroll.

Champion every year among drivers and manufacturers since 2014, "Mercedes is favorite, it is not a big surprise", affirms Vettel, who wants to remain "realistic": "it is a new departure for us".

For him and for Aston Martin.

The team owned by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll (Lance's father), who bought Aston Martin in 2020, has put the dishes in the big for this new start.

The presentation film is muscular with, as guest stars, the star of American football Tom Brady and even James Bond in person, alias Daniel Craig, used to driving Aston Martins in the last episodes of the 007 saga.

For aesthetics, the single-seater abandons the pink of Racing Point and adopts a more elegant bottle green, that more traditional of British racing cars.

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