Formula 1: Sebastian Vettel moving to Aston Martin in 2021?

Racing Point shut down rumors that four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel may join the team, rebranded as Aston Martin, for the 2021 season.

Of the 20 drivers who are set to compete in the 2020 Formula 1 season, the only one who is set to lose his ride after the season ends and does not have another landing spot confirmed is four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel is set to enter his sixth season at Ferrari, but it has already been confirmed that he will not be back with the Italian team next year. He is set to be replaced by Carlos Sainz Jr., who is set to be replaced by Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren.

Ricciardo’s replacement at Renault has not been named, although Vettel’s name has been brought up in discussions about the matter.

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Vettel’s name has been discussed as a possibility for several other teams with open seats to sign for next year as well, including but not limited to Mercedes, Red Bull Racing and Alfa Romeo Racing.

One potential landing spot that has recently come up is Racing Point. They are set to be rebranded as Aston Martin next year and could be a very interesting destination for the 32-year-old German.

But this was always going to be tough to pull off. The team’s two drivers are Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll. Perez extended his contract with the team through the 2022 season last August while Stroll’s father, Lawrence, owns the team.

The speculation was that Perez would see his contract cut short to make room for Vettel. But team principal Otmar Szafnauer has officially slammed the door on Vettel talks, confirming that Perez is set to return to the team next year and that Stroll is set to be back with him as well.

Here is what Szafnauer had to say about the matter, according to Radio Canada Sports.

"“It’s a crazy transfer season for 2021, while there isn’t even racing in 2020 yet. It is of course true that there are Grand Prix winners on the market for 2021 and now even champions with Sebastian Vettel, but we prefer to work with the current drivers. If we get a good car we can also win races and possibly become champion.”"

Including Perez and Stroll, there are currently nine drivers under contract to compete for six of the sport’s 10 teams in the 2021 Formula 1 season, leaving 11 seats still open across seven organizations for next year as the start of the 2020 campaign nears.

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The Austrian Grand Prix is scheduled to get the 2020 season underway on Sunday, July 5. This race is set to be broadcast live from the Red Bull Ring beginning at 9:10 a.m. ET on ESPN2.

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