Aston Martin chief Mike Krack admitted his team has "no plan B" in place if Sebastian Vettel leaves at the end of the season.
The German's current deal expires this year, and there have been some suggestions that he may choose to retire. Vettel suggested as much himself recently when he questioned if his goals in Formula 1 are still "realistic".
Even if he decides to continue racing, there is no guarantee the 35-year-old will stay with Aston Martin. The team has struggled for performance ever since his arrival at the start of 2021, and the four-time world champion has been growing ever more frustrated over the situation.
Aston Martin have made it clear they want to keep Vettel beyond the end of the year. Both sides have been in negotiations that are expected to continue into the summer break and possibly beyond, with no timeframe given for a final decision to be reached.
That absence of urgency is reflected in the team's preparations – or lack thereof – for a scenario in which Vettel decides against extending his stay. Krack admitted that they are not yet exploring alternative options as they pin their hopes on Vettel putting pen to paper.
"We have a very good relationship with Sebastian so we don’t want to set a deadline," he told German outlet Sport1. "He knows our opinion. He knows we definitely want to continue with him. There are talks in which we basically exchange ideas about how we can imagine a future together. We take our time with it.
"Of course, at some point you have to make a decision. I don't have the feeling he's playing for time, but says it immediately when he's clear about his future. I think after the summer break is the time when you can and have to be more concrete. Until then, we don't have a plan B either.
"I'm not a fan of calling him every day and going on and on about what we've just done. We have to convince him with the progress and results on the racetrack. Unfortunately, they are lacking, in reality at the moment. We just have to keep working very hard to make him feel things are going in the right direction."
