After the announcement of his departure, who will replace Vettel at Aston Martin?

Whether among the current holders or among those who dream of joining the most prestigious automobile competition, several drivers can aspire to Vettel’s seat at Aston Martin. Who will be the lucky one? The answer should not be long in coming.

Several starting drivers on the lookout

On the 2022 F1 grid, one driver seems to be favored to replace Vettel. His name is Mick Schumacher. The German driver, who has been nurtured by his compatriot since his arrival in F1, has already been the subject of rumors about a possible transfer to Aston Martin. Seeing him land at Silverstone, the headquarters of the British team, would make sense both in terms of marketing and income, as Schumacher would bring several German sponsors with him. Seeing Baby Schumi be replaced by the son of the seven-time world champion would be a nice way to close the loop.

Other drivers can claim the seat of the green car. Fernando Alonso is among them. Still not confirmed with Alpine for next year, the Spaniard is certainly the best driver Aston Martin could dream of. At the peak of his skills despite being over forty, Alonso has always stated that he wants to continue the F1 adventure. Seeing him leave Enstone would still be surprising, especially since the French team keeps praising the merits of their favorite driver.

Finally, Daniel Ricciardo or even Pierre Gasly are also possibilities. Although the McLaren driver has put an end to the rumors of retirement next year, the truth of the day is rarely the same as the truth of tomorrow in Formula 1. As for his counterpart at AlphaTauri, despite the announcement of his contract extension with the Faenza team for 2023, a potential interest from Lawrence Stroll could make the Frenchman reconsider.

Impatient substitutes

If Aston Martin doesn’t find what it’s looking for among the current drivers, it could turn to the reserve drivers. The first name that comes to mind is that of Nico Hülkenberg. The German driver spent four seasons as a regular driver when the team was called Force India. In 2020, he replaced Sergio Pérez and Lance Stroll for three Grand Prix races due to their Covid infections. For the same reason, he participated in the first two Grand Prix races of the year in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia this season, replacing Vettel. However, the chances of him returning to a regular driver position seem low.

Two young drivers currently on the sidelines can also lay claim to Vettel’s seat. Third Alpine driver, Oscar Piastri, is one of them. Laurent Rossi, the head of the team with the arrow A, recently stated that both he and Alonso would be on the grid in 2023. Therefore, it is possible to imagine Alonso extending his contract with Alpine and Piastri securing a position in another team. While the Williams option appears to be the most likely, the Aston Martin option could very well change the game.

Finally, the links that unite Aston Martin and Mercedes could serve as a springboard to place Nyck de Vries on the grid. The third driver of the eight-time world champion team enjoys a flattering reputation in the paddock and can boast of having participated in two official free practice sessions this season, one with Williams in Barcelona and the other with Mercedes in Le Castellet. His chances of becoming a regular driver next year should not be overlooked.

Anyway, Vettel’s timing for the announcement is perfect as it coincides with the launch of the silly season, a period during which transfer rumors flourish and contracts are signed. The F1 summer break is likely to be eventful in the coming weeks.