Infiniti is currently title sponsor of Vettel’s Red Bull Racing Formula One team, and the Japanese automaker has already signed him as an official brand ambassador, with the two having worked closely since 2011.
You may recall Vettel has already helped develop a custom Infiniti model, the FX Sebastian Vettel Version, but in his new role the F1 ace will have a more direct role in guiding the development of future Infiniti models.
This has already started with the new 2014 Infiniti Q50, where Vettel, along with F1 test driver Sebastien Buemi, helped fine-tune the vehicle on a number of circuits including Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife and the Circuit de Catalunya F1 track in Spain.
Vettel had been central to the development of the new Q50 from its early stages. He spent time with Infiniti engineers in Japan, providing them with his chassis dynamics, performance and handling feedback.
Having been named Director of Performance at Infiniti, Vettel will now become even more involved in the development of future Infiniti models.
“I am really happy to extend my relationship with Infiniti and become their Director of Performance," Sebastian Vettel said in a statement. "Helping to develop the Infiniti Q50 was a very different type of driving duty for me but I approached it in exactly the same way as I do my F1 car.”
