Vettel on Aston Martin's 2021 chances: 'If you want to win, you need to be in a Mercedes'

• Sebastian Vettel has signed with Aston Martin in 2021.

• Vettel admits that the team won't challenge for next year's championship.

• Vettel believes 2022 will allow the team a fresh start.

• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za

Sebastian Vettel admits he doesn't see any team challenging Mercedes next season, despite opting to sign for Aston Martin.

The four-time former World Champion's future has finally been put to rest after months of speculation since Ferrari announced they were to release him at the end of this year.

The German will take the place of Sergio Perez at the team who are set to be rebranded from Racing Point to Aston Martin, partnering Lance Stroll. Although the length of Vettel's contract has not been specified, merely announced as for "2021 and beyond", he is clearly looking to 2022 at the very least.

In an interview with Sky Sports on the eve of the Tuscan Grand Prix weekend at Mugello, the 33-year-old opined that before the introduction of new F1 regulations in 2022, only Mercedes can be World Champions – thus ruling out his former team Red Bull, with whom he had also been linked.

Valtteri Bottas has been confirmed by Mercedes for 2021, while Lewis Hamilton is also expected to sign a new deal – therefore closing the door to Vettel.

Mercedes will win in 2021

Vettel told Sky's Ted Kravitz: "I think you have to be honest and realistic that if you want to win the Championship next year you need to be in a Mercedes. Now obviously there are two seats, and I believe those seats are taken. It's obviously not been an easy decision (for me).

"I think there are two main factors. One is obviously believing in the team'steam's ability to do well - I think part of that is already proven by the track record this year, but I believe there is more to come. And the second big one is what I want to do in my future, whether it might be time to stop, to do something else or to keep going.

"I think I have more to give and I'm looking forward to the task with a new environment, new team, new spirit, some people I've known for a long time and together hopefully we can do good things."

READ: Sebastian Vettel to race for Aston Martin F1 team in 2021

Vettel also made reference to the "potential" of his new venture, especially given the budget cap that will be introduced into the sport next year.

He added: "There's a lot more to come from the team than what people have seen so far, for various reasons. The biggest one is that financially they were always disadvantaged with not having the amount of money other people were able to spend. Now the rules and the situation are coming their way, it's a team that is growing, and with the relaunch of Aston Martin in F1, I think it's a great step and very exciting to be part of that.

"There's huge potential for growth, and I'm looking forward to joining the team and trying to help with everything I know, all the experience I have to try to grow the team as much as possible so that we find ourselves in a competitive spot on the grid."